PAO chief on charges vs cops in teen slays: No state-sponsored killings

MANILA, Philippines — The filing of murder charges against two Caloocan City policemen for the killing of two minors in the country’s capital proved that there is no state-sanctioned killings under the Duterte administration, Public Attorney's Office chief Persida Rueda Acosta said Saturday.

The Department of Justice on Friday said charges were filed against Police Officers 1 Jeffrey Perez and Ricky Arquilita before the Caloocan City regional trial court over the slay of  Carl Angelo Arnaiz, 19 and Reynado “Kulot” de Guzman, 14.

READ: Murder raps filed vs 2 Caloocan cops in teen’s slay

“This case proves that there is no state-sponsored illegal killings,” Acosta said in a text message to reporters. “We will not tolerate any illegal killings even by state agents."

According to Acosta, the families of Arnaiz and de Guzman were “thankful.”

“Justice prevailed,” the PAO chief remarked.

The two teens—both residents of Anak Pawis 2, Barangay San Andres, Cainta— were last seen boarding a tricycle around midnight of Aug. 18, 2017.

Police reported they found De Guzman’s body in a creek about 70 kilometers from his home. His face was wrapped in packing tape and his body bore 30 stab wounds, they said.

He went missing with neighbor Arnaiz, who was shot dead on the same night by Manila police. The police accused him of robbing a taxi driver.

The boys’ killings followed the shooting death in Manila of another teenager, Kian delos Santos, during a police anti-drug raid on August 16.

Filipinos have mostly backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly drug war, but rare public outrage simmered over the trio of teen killings.

READ: Child killings spark calls for UN probe — Human Rights Watch