DOJ begins probe on complaint involving Carl-Kulot slays

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday began its preliminary investigation on the criminal complaint concerning the twin deaths of teenagers Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo "Kulot" De Guzman last August.

Respondents Police Officers 1 Jeffrey Perez and Ricky Arquilita and taxi driver Tomas Bagcal appeared at the hearing as well as the witnesses of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and Arnaiz’s parents, Carlito and Eva.

The three-man DOJ investigating panel headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Ma. Emilia Victorio gave the respondents until October 19 to submit their respective counter affidavits.

The PAO, in turn, will submit its reply to the counter affidavits on October 23.

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

The body of Arnaiz was found by his family in a morgue in Caloocan City on August 28 or 10 days after he supposedly died in a shootout with policemen who allegedly apprehended him for robbing Bagcal.

Examinations conducted by the PAO forensic laboratory, however, 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 on August 18.

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