MANILA, Philippines — The 14-year-old boy last seen with Carl Angelo Arnaiz was found dead on Tuesday, floating in a creek in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, with 30 stab wounds and his head wrapped in packing tape and a shirt.
The parents of Reynaldo de Guzman identified his remains yesterday afternoon at a local funeral parlor after an agonizing search that began on the night of Aug. 17 when he and Arnaiz went missing after leaving their homes in Cainta, Rizal to have snacks.
Ten days later, 19-year-old Arnaiz – a former student of the University of the Philippines – was found in a Caloocan morgue where he was brought after being killed reportedly in an encounter with city policemen. Police claimed Arnaiz was killed after he robbed a taxi driver and resisted arrest.
De Guzman’s parents learned about the discovery of what could be his remains from a Facebook post by the funeral parlor.
Gapan police chief Supt. Peter Madria said De Guzman’s body was found at around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday by residents of Barangay San Roque floating in the Kinamatayang Kabayo Creek, around 10 meters from the national highway.
“We were informed about the body at around 1:30 p.m.,” said Madria in a phone interview.
Police initially had no information regarding the identity of the shirtless victim. He was wearing only a pair of orange shorts with a Batman logo when found.
“The victim sustained at least 30 stab wounds on the body,” Madria said.
De Guzman’s parents Eduardo and Lina were able to identify him through a birthmark at the back of an ear and a wart on the left knee.
“Bakit po anak ko ginanyan niyo? Walang awang pinagsasasksak. Bigyan nyo ng hustisya ang anak ko (Why did you do this to my child? Mercilessly stabbed. Give him justice),” De Guzman’s distraught mother Lina cried.
His father Eduardo said he was wondering why his young son ended up in a province several kilometers away.
“He is from Cainta and now he ended up here. He is only 14 years old,” a visibly emotional Eduardo said in an interview with reporters aired on TV.
“Pulis Kalookan ang nakadale dyan (Caloocan police got him),” he added.
Residents told investigators they heard sounds of a vehicle arriving in their community before dawn Tuesday.
“The vehicle stopped beside the creek. They thought the people inside only threw trash,” said Madria.
The victim’s body was generally fresh according to investigators, indicating he was killed recently, Madria added.