THE Caloocan City Regional Trial Court has issued a warrant of arrest against two policemen charged for their alleged involvement in the killing of Carl Angelo Arnaiz and his companion, 14-year-old Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman, in August last year.
Caloocan City RTC Judge Georgina Hidalgo ordered law enforcers to arrest PO1s Ricky Arquilita and Jeffrey Perez.
“You are hereby commanded to arrest the following persons who have been charged with the offense of murder,” Hidalgo said in her order dated Jan. 23.
No bail was recommended for the temporary liberty of the two policemen.
The two are also facing charges for planting evidence for the recovered sachets of marijuana and shabu on Arnaiz’s pocket as well as a .38 cal. revolver near his body.
They are also accused of violating the Anti-Torture Law after examination showed that Arnaiz and De Guzman sustained blunt injuries in their bodies.
The Justice department earlier indicted the two policemen, giving credence to the testimony of “Joe Daniel” who told the authorities
how the accused shot Arnaiz who was on his knees with arms raised in surrender.
The witness also said that one of the policemen took a firearm inside the mobile patrol car and placed it on the hand of the male victim.
He also testified that he saw a ‘‘smaller person’’ fitting the description of De Guzman seated beside Arnaiz in the same police car. Arnaiz and De Guzman went missing on Aug. 17.
Arnaiz’s body was found at a morgue by his family 10 days later while De Guzman’s body was found on Sept. 6 in a creek in Gapan, Nueva Ecija.
De Guzman was the last person seen alive with Arnaiz in Cainta, Rizal. The two police officers claimed they were forced to fire at Arnaiz after Arnaiz fired at them when they responded to a call for help from cab driver Tomas Bagcal, who they said were robbed by the former UP student.
The Justice department has cleared Bagcal of involvement in the crime.