MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been ordered to conduct a parallel probe on the killing of a 19-year-old former student of the University of the Philippines, whose case appeared similar to that of Kian Loyd delos Santos.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II issued the order yesterday after an investigation conducted by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) showed the circumstances surrounding Carl Angelo Arnaiz’s death were similar to that of Delos Santos, who was killed in an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City last month.
Police claimed Arnaiz robbed taxi driver Tomas Bagcal at gunpoint along C-3 Road in Caloocan City on Aug. 18
In an interview, Bagcal, a resident of Barangay 164, Baesa, said Arnaiz hailed his cab in Navotas at past 3 a.m. and asked to be brought to 5th Avenue in Caloocan.
“When we reached 5th Avenue he became restless. He was looking left and right. When we reached a dimly lit portion along C-3 Road Barangay 28, he drew his gun and declared the heist,” Bagcal said in Filipino.
Arnaiz then took his wallet containing P450 and hit his head with a caliber .38 revolver before jumping out of the cab, he added.
The student reportedly shot at responding police officers as he fled, triggering a firefight. He died at the scene from five gunshot wounds.
Police said they recovered Bagcal’s wallet and taxi at the crime scene, and marijuana and shabu from the slain Arnaiz, who was on leave from UP.
Police claim debunked
Forensic analysis conducted by the PAO debunked the police account of the incident, suggesting Arnaiz was tortured before he was killed.
It showed the victim’s eyes were bruised and his wrists swollen, bearing handcuff marks.
The analysis also showed Arnaiz was kneeling when he was shot several times in the chest, suggesting “intentional killing” on the part of the police.
PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said the Arnaiz family is planning to file murder charges against the police officers.
In welcoming Aguirre’s order for a parallel probe, Acosta said they are gathering more evidence so they could file a complaint with the Department of Justice.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa maintained Arnaiz’s killing is different from Delos Santos’.
Dela Rosa clarified Arnaiz’s death was not related to an illegal drug operation, but a case of robbery.
“The police version is clear, they responded to a report of a robbery and the taxi driver positively identified him,” Dela Rosa said, referring to Arnaiz.
“That is a case of police response. The police responded because a taxi driver was held up and he reported the incident to the police,” he added.
He advised the public not be so quick in judging the police officers involved, saying this was a different case.
Dela Rosa said he ordered his men to look for the taxi driver so he could identify the man who robbed him.
He said Arnaiz was not immediately identified and his body was placed in a morgue in Caloocan City, where his parents found him 10 days later.
Police report
Investigators said they did not know the identity of Arnaiz and described him as “unidentified and approximately between 20-25 years old” in their Aug. 18 spot report.
Caloocan City chief investigator Chief Insp. Ilustre Mendoza said the case would have only been recorded as a “police shootout with an unidentified suspect” until Arnaiz’s parents, Eva and Carlito, showed up at his office on Aug. 28 and asked about their missing son.
Eva told Mendoza that she was able to chat with a friend on social media who told her to check with the Caloocan police about an unidentified man who died in an alleged shootout.
She said she called her son shortly before midnight on Aug. 17 and asked him where he was.
Arnaiz told his mother that he was out to buy midnight snacks.
His father said he does not believe his son was found with marijuana and shabu as his only vice was smoking.
During his first semester at UP Diliman, Arnaiz was reportedly diagnosed with clinical depression. He dropped out of college and underwent treatment for depression.
He was a valedictorian during his elementary days and graduated from Makati Science High School before entering UP.
Relieved
The two police officers tagged in Arnaiz’s death have been relieved from their posts, along with their precinct commander.
National Capital Region Police Office Director Oscar Albayalde reassigned Inspector Fortunato Ecle Jr. of the Police Community Precinct 2 and his men – PO1s Jeffrey Perez and Jerry Arquilita – to the NCRPO regional police holding and accounting unit.
Ecle, Perez and Arquilita were disarmed of their service firearms and badge and placed under restrictive custody at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.
Albayalde said the officers’ relief was meant to prevent them from influencing the investigation on Arnaiz’s case.– With Non Alquitran, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Rey Galupo, Paolo Romero