DOJ extends probe into Carl, Kulot slays

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has extended its preliminary investigation into the killings of former University of the Philippines student Carl Angelo Arnaiz and his companion Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman.

Police Officers 1 Jeffrey Perez and Ricky Arquilita, who are tagged in the double murder case, claimed two witnesses support their defense.

The DOJ panel of prosecutors was supposed to end the investigation and submit the case for resolution when the two suspects submitted yesterday the statement of the witnesses, who supposedly validate their claim that Arnaiz was killed in a shootout when he was robbing taxi driver Tomas Bagcal along C-3 Road in Caloocan City.

Solomon Rosca and Madelaine Soliman allegedly saw Arnaiz shooting it out with the respondents, according to the policemen’s lawyer Dodjie Encinas.

“The witnesses said they passed the highway aboard a tricyle when they saw the two policemen chasing a teenager. They said the teenager fired at the policemen instead of surrendering to them. A shootout then ensued,” Encinas told reporters in an interview.

“These witnesses went to an alley to hide. When they went back to the highway a few minutes later, they saw the teenager dead,” he said.

The policemen asked the DOJ panel to consider the statements of the new witnesses.

But the panel, chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Emilia Victorio, required the respondents to present the two witnesses before the DOJ before their statements could be considered.

“We can sense an unending preliminary investigation on this case. The preliminary investigation should not last long because they are just inviting bogus witnesses, planted witnesses, who just want to ride on in the case,” said Persida Rueda-Acosta, chief of the Public Attorney’s Office, who represents the complainants.

Still, the policemen were given until Friday to comply with the order.

Encinas admitted that the statements were received by the policemen at Camp Bagong Diwa, where they are under restrictive custody.

Perez and Arquilita have denied the charges against them and sought the dismissal of the complaint for double murder, torture and planting of evidence filed against them by the parents of Arnaiz and De Guzman for lack of probable cause.