Police say they will not force Kulot’s family to turn over cadaver

The police will not force the family of Reynaldo "Kulot" de Guzman to subject to another DNA test the cadaver that was recovered in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, last week, after the first test showed that it was not their son's.

Senior Superintendent Wilson Asueta, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR), said they just requested the family to turn over to them the body, which was buried Wednesday.

"Nagbigay kami ng letter na kung pwede i-turn over o i-transfer sa PNP 'yung bangkay, tapos kung gusto nilang ipa-DNA ulit, i-assist namin kung saan gusto nila. 'Yun lang naman ang request namin," he said in a phone interview with reporters.

"Kung ayaw nila hindi namin pipilitin."

De Guzman, 14, has been missing since August 18 when he was last seen with Carl Angelo Arnaiz, 19, in their neighborhood in Cainta, Rizal. 

Arnaiz was eventually killed by Caloocan police after he allegedly robbed a taxi driver at gunpoint, although his parents do not believe this. The driver also said he brought Arnaiz alive to a police station.

De Guzman's parents, meanwhile, refused to believe the result of the DNA test conducted by the Philippine National Police that shows the body found at a creek in Gapan last week was not their son's.

Asked if charges will be filed against the parents for refusing to turn over the cadaver,  Asueta replied he could not say yet.

"Wala pang nagki-claim [ng bangkay]. Hindi ko pa masabi dahil hindi pa papasok sa obstruction of justice," he said.

He also said the cadaver could be exhumed if there is a court order.

As of now, police investigation on De Guzman's whereabouts will continue, Asueta said. —KBK, GMA News