DOJ orders probe into Carl Arnaiz slay

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:02 p.m.) — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an investigation into the death of a 19-year-old student killed in a Caloocan City police operation.

On August 17, Carl Angelo Arnaiz left his home in Cainta, Rizal to buy midnight snacks. After 10 days, his body was recovered at a morgue in Caloocan City.

Caloocan police claimed that Arnaiz hailed a cab at 3:20 a.m. on August 18 in Navotas City and robbed the driver when they were along C-3 Road in Caloocan.

The teenager died in a shootout with cops when the driver, Tomas Bagcal, sought assistance when he chanced upon PO1 Jefrey Perez and PO1 Ricky Arquta, according to a report from the Caloocan police.

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

Aguirre also ordered the NBI, through Director Dante Gierran, to file charges against the suspects in the killing of Arnaiz, if the evidence warrants it.

"Further, Director Gierran shall submit a report to the Office of the Secretary of Justice on its current activities related to the implementation of this Order," Aguirre said.

The Public Attorney's Office is also set to file murder charges against the policemen before the DOJ.

A forensics report showed that aside from the gunshot wounds that Arnaiz acquired from the supposed shootout, there were indications that he was tortured before being shot.

A valedictorian in elementary and a graduate of Makati Science High School before entering the University of the Philippines, 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz was recovered at a morgue in Caloocan City. Facebook/Carl Angelo Arnaiz

"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.

Kian delos Santos case

The case comes on the heels of the death of 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos, who was also killed last month in an anti-drug operation. Police, including Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa, claimed that Kian was a drug courier for his father and uncle, citing police intelligence.

Caloocan police later admitted to a Senate panel that they "validated" the boy's supposed drug activities through social media posts after he had already been killed.

The parents have been provisionally admitted to the DOJ's Witness Protection Program after meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte.

The police have yet to retract their assertion that the boy was a drug runner.