UP Diliman demands justice for slain Carl Arnaiz

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines Diliman called for immediate justice following the death of 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz.

After missing for 10 days, the body of Arnaiz was recovered at a morgue in Caloocan City.

"UP Diliman joins the family of Carl Angelo M. Arnaiz, a former UP Diliman student, in mourning his death and calling for immediate justice," the university said in a statement.

A valedictorian during his elementary days and a graduate of Makati Science High School, Arnaiz enrolled in the university as a BS Interior Design student for the first semester of the academic year 2014 to 2015.

READ: What we know so far: Killing of Carl Arnaiz, 19

The teenager had to dropout of school after being diagnosed with clinical depression. He started a small sari-sari store using remittances from his mother, who has been working in Dubai.

"His mother describes him as a homebody who disliked going out. He lived with and was taking care of his maternal grandmother, and a younger cousin," the statement read.

UP Diliman compared the case of Arnaiz to 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos, who was also killed by members of the Caloocan police in anti-drugs operation.

"Carl’s life circumstances are so similar to that of Kian delos Santos, another extra-judicial killing victim murdered just two days before Carl, raising questions about the safety and welfare of young Filipinos in the current war on drugs," UP Diliman said.

Police claimed that Arnaiz hailed a cab in Navotas City at around 3:30 a.m. on August 18 and attempted to rob the driver, Tomas Bagcal, when they reached C-3 in Caloocan.

Arnaiz reportedly died in a shootout with the police when the taxi driver sought for assistance.

Forensics report from the Public Attorney's Office, however, showed that the teenager was tortured before being shot.

"Malalalim 'yung gasgas niya, mukhang kinaladkad ito at mukhang binugbog. Magang-maga 'yung kanyang mga mata. Meron din kami nakitang marka na siya ay pinosasan. Maraming marka ng posas," Dr. Erwin Erfe, chief of the PAO forensic laboratory services, said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

On the other hand, the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory said that Arnaiz tested positive for gunpowder nitrates.

The Department of Justice has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the death of Arnaiz.