Cops urge DOJ to junk raps over Carl-Kulot slays, insist on self-defense

The two Caloocan policemen linked to the twin deaths of teenagers Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo "Kulot" de Guzman asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday to dismiss the criminal complaints filed against them.

Police Officer 1 Jeffrey Perez, PO1 Ricky Arquilita, and taxi driver Tomas Bagcal showed up at the second preliminary investigation hearing to subscribe to their respective counter-affidavits detailing their defense to the charges.

Also present at the hearing were Carl’s parents, Carlito and Eva, their witnesses, and lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office.

DOJ resumes preliminary probe hearing on Carl-Kulot double murder case. Respondents expected to file counter affidavits. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/JuqawFe5N9

— Virgil Lopez (@virgillopez) October 19, 2017

Dismissing the charges as baseless, Perez and Arquilita claimed that they killed Arnaiz in a gunfight in the wee hours of August 18 after the 19-year-old allegedly robbed Bagcal along C-3 Road in Caloocan.

“Now, how could they charge us for murder and planting of evidence under Republic Act 10591 and Republic Act 9165 if what we have only done was to protect ourselves from the shooting spree of Mr. Carl Arnaiz in response [to] a legitimate complaint of Mr. Bagcal,” the joint counter affidavit stated.

“Again, it was a legitimate police operation and what we have done last August 18, 2017 is pursuant to the mission and vision of the Philippine National Police. We humbly ask that this criminal charges be dismissed for utter lack of merit,” it added.

Bagcal’s camp said the taxi driver only narrated in his counter affidavit what he knew about the incident.

“We are just stating for a fact what really transpired during the incident. Whether the DOJ appreciates our theory of the case, that’s for them to appreciate, not us,” lawyer Romeo Manalo told GMA News Online.

The three-man DOJ investigating panel headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Ma. Emilia Victorio gave the complainants until October 23 to submit a reply to the respondents’ defense.

Another hearing was set for October 26 for the filing of rejoinder affidavits by the respondents.

Pending before the DOJ are the complaints for double murder against Perez, Arquilita, and Bagcal.

The three men were also charged with torture and planting of evidence under Section 29 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 or Republic Act 9165 and Republic Act 10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

The body of Arnaiz turned up in a morgue on August 28, 10 days after he supposedly died in a shootout with the policemen who allegedly apprehended him for robbing Bagcal.

Examinations conducted by the PAO forensic laboratory showed handcuff marks around Arnaiz's wrists and traces of bruising all over his body.

A male witness, identified as Joe Daniel, also said Arnaiz was kneeling and handcuffed when he was killed by the two policemen.

A body dumped in a creek in Gapan, Nueva Ecija a few days later was identified as De Guzman who was Arnaiz's last known companion in Cainta, Rizal on August 18.

The 14-year-old sustained 26 stab wounds with his head wrapped in packaging tape. — MDM, GMA News