Cop accused in Carl, 'Kulot' slay dies in detention cell
MANILA, Philippines — The cop accused of killing two teenagers Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman passed away while in detention.
The STAR reported that Patrolman Ricky Arquilita, 33, passed away April 20. His death certificate showed that “massive blood loss, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, possibly malignant multiple liver nodule and choledocholithiasis” caused his death.
Patrolman Ricky Arquilita, who is accused of killing teenagers Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo "Kulot" De Guzman in a police operation, passed away Black Saturday in the middle of a murder trial. He was 33. @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/uqeJE5qqxb
— Marc Jayson Cayabyab (@mjaysoncayabyab) April 25, 2019
Arquilita is in the middle of the double murder trial at the Navotas Regional Trial Court over the deaths of the two teenagers believed to be part of the “war on drugs” operation, an allegation that the government has denied.
The report said that the cop was confined for 22 days and had been missing bail hearings at the Navotas RTC due to suspected hepatitis.
“The jail warden of the Valenzuela jail said Arquilita was diagnosed with hepatitis, anemia, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and cholangitis,” the report further read.
Article 89 of the Revised Penal Code provides that a death of the convict would totally extinguish liability. This leaves Arquilita’s co-accused and fellow Patrolman Jeffrey Perez to face the trial.
The tweet report also added that Carl Arnaiz’s father, Carlito, extended condolences to the family of the late cop but lamented that Arquilita “didn’t get to pay for his sins.”
Arnaiz and De Guzman went missing on the night of Aug. 17, 2017.
Arnaiz’s body was found 11 days later at a funeral home in Caloocan City. The 19-year-old former University of the Philippines student reportedly robbed a taxi driver and fired shots at responding policemen, prompting the authorities to shoot and kill him.
Almost a month later, De Guzman's parents were informed that their son’s body was found floating in a creek in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. — Kristine Joy Patag with reports from The STAR/Marc Jayson Cayabyab
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