Kulot’s mom asks Duterte’s help in seeking justice for slain son

The mother of slain 14-year-old Reynaldo de Guzman has asked for President Rodrigo Duterte's help in seeking justice for her son.

"Bakit ito tinadtad ng saksak ang anak ko, bakit ano bang kaso ng anak ko? Ano bang nagawa ng anak ko sa kanila? Kulang na lang putulin nila ang ulo ng anak ko, wala hong kaawa-awa ang gumawa sa aking anak," Lina Gabriel said in an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita on Thursday.

"Sana naman po Pangulo Duterte, tulungan ninyo po ako para manahimik ang kaluluwa ng aking anak at saka po ako. Hindi po ako titigil hanggang hindi po ninyo nahuhuli yung pumatay sa anak ko. Sana naman po parusahan ninyo ng bitay," she added.

"Masakit po sa damdamin ko po na nawala ang aking anak na pinakamamahal naming anak na lalaki," Lina said.

Reynaldo also known as "Kulot", was found dead in Gapan, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday. He bore 30 stab wounds on his body while his head was wrapped in packaging tape.

Reynaldo, the fourth among five children, was seen in the company of Carl Angelo Arnaiz on the night of August 17 to buy snacks in a store near their residences in Barangay San Andres, Cainta, Rizal.

Lina earlier said they only learned about his son's death through a Facebook post of the funeral parlor where Reynaldo's body was brought.

For his part, Reynaldo's father believes his son was killed by Caloocan City policemen to prevent him from testifying on the killing of Carl.

In a sworn affidavit, the policemen said that Carl 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.

Carl's parents found him in a Caloocan morgue on August 28. Police authorities said that Carl was killed in an alleged shootout with Caloocan policemen past 3:30 a.m. on August 18.

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

Caloocan City Police cops Officers 1 Jeffrey Perez and Ricky Arquilita, have already been relieved from their posts pending investigation into the August 18 incident.

Carl was laid to rest on September 5, while Reynaldo's remains will be brought to Cainta, Rizal on Thursday. — Marlly Rome C. Bondoc/RSJ, GMA News