Kulot’s parents placed on provisional witness protection —DOJ

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has placed the parents of 14-year-old Reynaldo De Guzman under the provisional coverage of the government's Witness Protection Program (WPP).

Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta, whose office is providing legal assistance to the boy's family, disclosed the development on Friday, a day after Aguirre said that he received reports that spouses Eduardo and Lina Gabriel have expressed fears for their safety.

Reynaldo, also known as Kulot, was found dead in Gapan, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday, days after the body of Carl Angelo Arnaiz, the last person seen with the boy, was recovered from a funeral home in Caloocan City on August 28.

Arnaiz's parents, Carlito and Eva, meanwhile, were brought to a safe house after they were placed under the full coverage of the WPP, according to Acosta.

Among the benefits for witnesses as provided under Republic Act 6981 are security protection and escort services, secure housing facility, traveling expenses and subsistence allowance while acting as a witness, and assistance in obtaining a means of livelihood.

Aguirre said initial results of the autopsy conducted the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday showed Reynaldo bore 26 stab wounds on his body, seven of them on the chest.

A separate examination conducted by the PAO indicated Reynaldo was already dead due to two or three stab wounds when his killer chose to stab him at most 24 more times.

Like Arnaiz, the PAO said Reynaldo's body showed signs of torture.

The PAO forensic examination failed to study the tape wrapped around De Guzman's head as it was removed after his body was taken from the creek where he was found in Gapan for analysis.

De Guzman and Arnaiz were last seen together in Cainta, Rizal on August 18.

Hours later, Arnaiz was killed by policemen after he supposedly hailed a cab in Navotas and robbed its driver along C3 Road in Caloocan. —NB, GMA News