NPD crime lab chief: Armed contact on the body of Carl Arnaiz possible

There might have been armed contact on the body of 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz as autopsy results showed, Northern Police District Crime Laboratory chief Police Superintendent Arnel Marquez said Monday.

During the resumption of the Senate probe on the killing of Kian delos Santos, Senator Risa Hontiveros asked Marquez about the "discrepancy" between the forensic result of the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) and the statement of the police personnel being tagged in the killings of Arnaiz.

"Paano maipapaliwanag na may findings ang PAO na binugbog at pinosasan? Ibang-iba sa detalye sa salaysay ng dalawang personnel," Hontiveros said.

"Based on the examination of Dra. Cruz on Carl Arnaiz there were abrasions noted by Dra. Cruz on the chest and back portions," Marquez responded.

"We cannot really disregard that there are contact with rough surfaces, so there can be armed contact, there can be contact with surfaces that are rough," he added.

Meanwhile, Marquez said that Arnaiz also had a contusion on his forearm.

"Pwede nating ma-attribute 'yon sa possibility na nakaposas din siya," he added. "Meron po kasing mga abrasions na nakita sa dibdib at bandang likod ng biktima."

Hontiveros then asked if there is a possibility that the findings of the Philippine National Police did not contradict with the autopsy results conducted by PAO.

"Opo, pwede po," Marquez said.

On August 28, Arnaiz was found in a Caloocan morgue. Authorities claimed he robbed a taxi driver and fired at them, prompting the cops to fire back.

In a sworn affidavit, the policemen said 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.

Caloocan City Police Officers 1 Jeffrey Perez and Ricky Arquilita have already been relieved pending investigation into the August 18 incident. —KG, GMA News