(Eagle News) — The two Caloocan City policemen who figured in the killing of 19-year old former University of the Philippines student Carl Angelo Arnaiz and his companion 14-year old Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman had been slapped with complaints for double murder filed by the family members of the slain teenagers.
Aside from Police officers 1 Jeffrey Perez and Ricky Arquilita of the Caloocan City Police, also slapped with the complaints for double murder was taxi driver Tomas Bagcal who was allegedly held-up by Arnaiz on the night of August 18.
The Public Attorney’s Office assisted the families in filing the double murder complaints before the Department of Justice.
Complaints for planting of evidence, and violation of the anti-torture law were also filed against the three men.
The two Caloocan City policemen had already been relieved from their duties.
The two cops claimed that Arnaiz was killed in a shootout after he allegedly tried to rob taxi driver Bagcal on the night of August 18. The cops claimed that they were doing the rounds at the alleged time that the hold-up happened.
Bagcal, who surfaced on September 10, had a different story, saying he himself brought Arnaiz alive to the police station.
PAO chief Atty. Persida Acosta said that the cases would just be consolidated and “treated as one” since the two teenagers, Arnaiz and De Guzman, were last seen together in Cainta, Rizal on August 17.
According to the Northern Police District Crime Laboratory chief Police Supt. Arnel Marquez, Arnaiz had five bullet wounds – two on the right part of the chest, one in the middle, one in the left, and one in the stomach.
These bullet wounds caused his death.
The police autopsy showed that he was possibly killed while he was lying down.
Arnaiz also had abrasions and hematoma in his right eye, abrasions in the right part of the chest and lower back, and bruises in the wrists which could mean that he was grabbed there tightly or had been handcuffed.
These injuries were allegedly done before Arnaiz died.
On the other hand, the body that was said to be that of the 14-year old “Kulot” de Guzman bore some 30 stab wounds, when it was found in a creek in Gapan, Nueva Ecija.
But on Monday, police claimed that based on the DNA testing on the body and on the swabs taken from Kulot’s parents, the body was not that of the missing 14-year old.
De Guzman’s parents, however, rejected this finding by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
The boy’s body was laid to rest on Wednesday in a Pasig Cemetery.
(Eagle News Service)
