Eleazar: Let PNP, NBI finish probe into death of teenager in Valenzuela

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar on Friday asked the public to wait for the findings of the separate investigations into the fatal shooting of a teenager in Valenzuela City.

Eleazar made the appeal after Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian on Thursday quoted a witness as saying that 18-year-old Edwin Arnigo did not grab the firearm of a police officer, which resulted in a scuffle.

Gatchalian, however, said the witness believed the shooting was accidental.

“I don’t want to preempt the investigations being conducted on the case, particularly that of the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation),” the PNP chief said.

“We will accept and abide by any findings of the NBI and of the IAS (Internal Affairs Service) in the case. In the meantime it would be prudent to wait for the outcome of the investigations being conducted,” he added.

Eleazar commended the witness who came forward to give his statement on the incident, adding his testimony will help shed light on the incident, which took place during a raid on an illegal cockfight last Sunday.

The PNP chief earlier directed the IAS to conduct a thorough probe on the incident to determine if there were procedural lapses committed by the Valenzuela policemen that could have contributed to the teenager’s death.

The police officer involved in the incident has been disarmed and placed under restrictive custody as a matter of investigative procedure.

Arnigo’s parents earlier said they were determined to seek justice for their son. — RSJ, GMA News