‘Caloocan fire no effect on Kian, Carl’s cases’

MANILA, Philippines — The fire that hit the Caloocan police station will not affect the status of the cases of Kian delos Santos and Carl Arnaiz, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta said yesterday.

Acosta said the PAO has certified and authenticated documents in the cases of Delos Santos and Arnaiz. The original folders were believed lost or destroyed in the fire that razed the police station on Monday.

She said if the original documents were destroyed, it won’t have any bearing on the case as all pieces of evidence have been submitted to the Department of Justice, Philippine National Police and National Police Commission.

 Acosta said they have strong evidence in the case, whose resolution is expected by the end of this month.

Aside from Delos Santos and Arnaiz, PAO is handling the case of Reynaldo de Guzman, 14.

The death of the three teenagers supposedly at the hands of police officers sparked public outrage and cast doubts on the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign.