DOJ orders NBI to conduct parallel probe on Carl Angelo Arnaiz's death

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the death of Carl Angelo Arnaiz who was killed in an alleged shootout with Caloocan policemen who accosted him for allegedly robbing a taxi driver.

"The written order was issued today [Monday] but I already issued a verbal order to that effect last Saturday," Aguirre said in a text message on Monday.

Aguirre's directive for investigation and case build up came after Arnaiz's family and the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) cried foul over the police's version of the events that led to the killing of the 19-year-old former University of the Philippines student.

Arnaiz's father, Carlito, said that PAO chief Persida Acosta had told them that they will reach out to the DOJ.

Caloocan City cops Police Officer 1 Jeffrey Perez and Police Offcer 1 Ricky Arquilita, have already been relieved pending investigation into the August 18 incident.

According to the policemen, Arnaiz held up taxi driver Tomas Bagcal on C3 Road in Caloocan City, hit the driver on the head with a gun, took his wallet and then fled the scene.

Bagcal then asked for help from policemen patrolling the area to apprehend Arnaiz but the young man allegedly opened fire on them, prompting them to fire back and kill the teenager.

Police said the driver's wallet containing P450 and the taxi were recovered from the crime scene.

They also said marijuana and shabu were found in Arnaiz's possession.

However, the victim's relatives refused to believe that he was into illegal drugs saying Arnaiz's only vice was smoking.

Carlito also said that his son could not have opened fire at the Caloocan City policemen because the teenager did not know how to handle a gun.

"Hindi naman 'yan totoo kasi hindi naman marunong humawak ng baril 'yan," he said.

He also said that they did not know the certain alias Kulot, who police said was with his son before he was killed.

Carlito said his son doesn't usually go out and often stayed at home.

"Mabait na bata 'yan si Carl, hindi palalayas 'yan—nasa bahay lang lagi 'yan," he said.

"Sana sabihin nila ang totoong nangyari. Kawawa naman ang anak ko. Inosente 'yan, e," he concluded, addressing the policemen who allegedly exchanged bullets with Carl Angelo.

Tortured

The forensic analysis conducted by the PAO on his body, meanwhile, indicated that that Arnaiz was tortured before he was killed as his wrists were swollen and bore handcuff marks and his eyes were bruised.

He also seemed to have been kneeling when he was shot several times in the chest.

The PAO is planning to file murder charges against the policemen.

Arnaiz's parents found him in a Caloocan morgue on August 28, ten days after he had gone missing.

Prior to his disappearence, Arnaiz's parents said he only went out with a friend on August 17 to buy food near their house in Barangay San Andres in Cainta, Rizal. —with a report from Bam Alegre/Akari Nakano/KG/KVD/ALG, GMA News