Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 23) – The Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) in a report found that a 19-year-old was killed intentionally by two policemen in August.
The findings of PNP-IAS into the death of teenager Carl Angelo Arnaiz in Caloocan City on August 18 were obtained by CNN Philippines on Thursday.
The report found that Caloocan City police officers PO1 Ricky Arquilita and PO1 Jeffrey Perez intentionally killed Arnaiz.
“Ang theory namin na kaya siguro pinatay dahil it causes police problem sa lugar. Kasi allegedly as sinabi din ng na-hold-up na baka may previous record, pabalik-balik lang kaya siguro ginaganon at hindi na pino-proseso. So inikot namin ang kanilang lugar, DSWD, barangay, and sa kanilang station at kalapit na barangay pati nearby police station. Wala pong mga record sila. So hindi natin alam ang motive ng respondent,” Triambulo said.
The police’s findings were based on the statements of taxi driver Tomas Bagcal and another witness alias Joe Daniels.
PNP-IAS Chief Alfegar Triambulo said physical evidence and medico-legal expert findings corroborate the statements of the witnesses.
“Ang compelling factor is yung testimony ng driver na si Bagcal na cino-orroborate, yung other witness yung statement niya. And nagtugma sa mga pangyayari pati sa scene of crime, pati yung trajectory of bullets, plus yung testimony ng medico-legal officer ng PAO na nag-examine sa cadaver,” he said.
The evidence presented outweighs the two police officers’ defense that Arnaiz’s death was part of legitimate police operations, he added.
The killing of Arnaiz and his 13-year-old friend Reynaldo de Guzman, along with the cold-blooded shooting of 17-year-old Kian de los Santos in a police anti-drugs operation came days after one another in August. Their deaths sparked wide outrage among Filipinos protesting the government’s drug war and the conduct of corrupt policemen.
The two police officers were recommended dismissed from the Philippine National Police, while Caloocan Police Community Precinct Two commander Chief Inspector Fortunato Ecle was recommended for demotion, the PNP-IAS said in its report.
Despite its findings, Triambulo said the death of Arnaiz cannot be considered an extrajudicial killing.
“Hindi din. Kasi dun sa kanyang immediate commander na si Ecle, wala tayong makukuha na, ay mayroong utos. Parang lumabas na at their own decision,” he said.
The police officers could have acted on their own and there was no evidence to prove that an order to kill Arnaiz existed.
The recommendations on the administrative case against the three policemen are now with the office of PNP Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa for approval.
