Manila: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday met the parents of a 19-year old student who was killed by policemen during an alleged robbery shoot-out on August 17.
Duterte met Carlito and Eva Arnaiz at the presidential palace in Malacanang, a day after the justice department enrolled the family in the government’s Witness Protection Programme.
They are expected to testify in court against police reports that their son Carl Arnaiz allegedly robbed a taxi driver on C-3 Road in Metro Manila’s northern suburban Caloocan last month.
They will also contest police reports a gun, marijuana leaves, and shabu were recovered from the young Arnaiz, sources said.
Arnaiz sustained four gunshot wounds on his chest and one in the stomach.
The bullets entered his body from the front, their trajectory downward, suggesting he was shot while lying down, the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory said.
The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) noted the handcuff marks on his wrists, scars and bruises on his face, adding they were signs of torture.
In contrast, the police claimed Arnaiz was killed in a shoot-out because he ran away while being arrested after allegedly robbing a taxi driver.
Carl went missing on August 18. On August 28, his family received a text message from a funeral home which identified his body.
Carl’s mother did not recognise her son’s outfit at the funeral home, adding he didn’t own a Dickies pants, a Vans’ hoodie, and a head cap.
The money he was carrying was gone and his new cell phone was missing, replaced by an old one.
She doubted police reports that her son was in possession of marijuana and shabu; and that the P450 (Dh37.50) found in his wallet was taken from a taxi driver.
“My brother was a very good man,” said his sister Nicka.
“It’s very painful to think that he was tortured,” said his grandmother Norma.
“The police must present the taxi driver who was allegedly robbed,” said his friend Keith Dagondong.
After suffering from depression, the young Arnaiz took a leave of absence from the premier University of the Philippines in suburban Quezon City — he was a fine arts student there. At the time, he watched over his family-owned convenient store.
He was the second highest scorer in the entrance exam of the Makati Science High School.
He graduated valedictorian from Tibagan Elementary School.
Members of the Northern Police District in northern suburban Caloocan were criticised anew for the death of Arnaiz. NPD policemen were also blamed for the killing of Kian Delos Santos, 14, during an anti-illegal drug trade campaign in Caloocan last month.
Rights groups have been pressuring President Duterte to stop policemen from killing alleged drug pushers and drug users.
