More questions raised as cabbie says Carl Arnaiz killing 'scripted'

MANILA, Philippines — More questions were raised than answers as the taxi driver allegedly robbed by slain 19-year-old Carl Arnaiz changed his earlier statements and refused to answer queries.

Cabbie Tomas Marleo Bagcal faced members of the media on Sunday to tell his version of the alleged robbery that ended in the death of the teenager.

Contrary to his earlier statement, Bagcal said the Caloocan City police might have staged the killing.

"Ang ano ko lang kasi nangyari sa pulis, iyong pagkapatay noong prinisent kong holdaper ay parang may stage play, parang scripted ang pagkapatay," Bagcal said.

In an earlier video recorded by The STAR, Bagcal said he is thankful that there were police officers in the area who helped him chase Arnaiz after the robbery. However, in his statement at a televised press conference on Sunday, Bagcal said it was the bystanders in the area who helped him chase the thief, who he later on identified as Arnaiz. The same bystanders mugged the teen, the cabbie added.

Bagcal also claimed he brought the alleged burglar to a police station at 9^th Avenue in Caloocan City as he wanted him to undergo inquest procedures.

The cabbie confirmed that Arnaiz hailed the cab on a highway in Navotas and that the incident occurred during the wee hours of August 18.

“Biktima talaga ako ng isang holdapan. Itong tao na nang-holdap sakin nahuli ko with the help of the tambay,” Bagcal said.

“Dinala ko sa station ng police ng buhay,” he added.

Bagcal witnessed shootout with police

The taxi driver also narrated that he witnessed how Arnaiz was killed.

“Actually, nakita ko na naglalakad. Few seconds may putukan akong narinig. Nagtago ako sa poste ng Meralco kasi ‘di bulletproof ‘yung taxi ko,” Bagcal said.

“Split second, kita ko bagsak na ‘yung naglalakad,” he added.

Asked if Arnaiz retaliated during the supposed shootout, Bagcal said he could not tell as the encounter happened swiftly. But he also said there is a possibility that the victim was shot again even after he was killed since the gunshots were continuous.

The cabbie claimed he was then asked to follow the police to C3 road for unknown reasons.

When asked about inconsistencies in his two affidavits, Bagcal said the statements were not his. He, however, did not clarify the details of what happened on August 18.

He also did not explain the sequence of events after questions from reporters, saying that he is willing to reveal more details at a proper venue such as the Senate or the court.

READ: 'Not my real statement': Cabbie allegedly robbed by Carl Arnaiz denies affidavit

The Caloocan City police earlier said the cabbie executed two affidavits with contradicting details on the description of the burglar, the time and location of the robbery and where he was hit by the gun.

Bagcal claimed he was only able to identify Arnaiz after he removed the black hoodie worn by the suspected robber but his first affidavit indicated that he failed to identify the suspect.

The taxi driver is currently under the custody of human rights organization Rise Up for Life and for Rights.

Bagcal, who went missing, narrated that his apartment has been ransacked.

The National Bureau of Investigation, ordered to investigate the robbery incident, said Bagcal is an important witness who may shed light into Arnaiz’s slay.

Like Arnaiz, the Public Attorneys’ Office forensic team said the alleged shootout with the Caloocan City Police seemed staged as they found no bullet slugs or holes on the wall. PAO added that there was no blood and that the vegetation on the grassy lot where his body was found was undisturbed.