Witness in teen’s shooting surfaces

MANILA, Philippines — A witness has surfaced belying the police narrative that teenager with autism Edwin Arnigo scuffled for the service firearm of Senior M/Sgt. Christopher Salcedo during a raid in Valenzuela City.

The witness was one of those rounded up by police during a raid on a tupada or illegal cockfight in Barangay Lingunan, Mayor Rex Gatchalian said yesterday.

“The witness was in close proximity, literally less than an arm’s length away from the victim when it happened,” Gatchalian said on Twitter.

The witness told National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probers that there was no scuffle over the gun between Arnigo and Salcedo, according to Gatchalian.

“Walang agawan ng baril,” Gatchalian said, referring to the usual police narrative in justifying suspects killed in police custody.

The witness also testified seeing the reaction of Salcedo when the gun was fired. The witness believes that the shooting was “accidental,” Gatchalian said.

“He is adamant in saying that though the account he saw is different from the statement of the policemen involved, he knows it was accidental because he saw the reaction of the police officer after the shooting,” he said.

Gatchalian vowed a speedy resolution of the case and justice for Arnigo’s family.

The witness met with Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Wednesday night.

Eleazar did not disclose the witness’ identity and the information the latter revealed so as not to jeopardize the probe.

He said the witness sought an audience with him.

Eleazar said he referred the witness to the NBI, which is conducting a separate probe of the incident.

Valenzuela police chief Col. Ramchrisen Haveria called the shooting an “accident.”