THE chief of the Caloocan City police urged Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta not to jump to conclusions that his cops were involved in the killing of 14-year-old Reynaldo "Kulot" De Guzman.
After De Guzman was found dead in a creek in Gapan, Nueva Ecija last September 5, Senior Superintendent Jemar Modequillo, Caloocan police chief, said that Acosta had concluded that his police officers were involved in the killing.
Modequillo said Acosta allegedly said that De Guzman was "most likely" killed by Caloocan police officers so he could no longer testify for the slaying of 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz.
De Guzman was last seen with Arnaiz, the suspected robber who allegedly engaged with police officers in C3 Road, Caloocan City last August 18.
"Kulot (or) De Guzman was first seen in Cainta and last seen in Nueva Ecija," Modequillo said.
He said there was no indication was De Guzman and Arnaiz were together when latter held up a taxi driver.
His parent found De Guzman's body at a funeral parlor in Gapan after it was recovered in a creek. The boy's body had 30 stab wounds and his head was wrapped in packaging tape.
Based on PAO's initial autopsy report, De Guzman was killed at least 24 hours before his body was thrown in the creek.
Modequillo said the Caloocan police should not be linked to the killing of De Guzman because his body was not found in their area of control.
"Ang sinabi natin, huling nakitang nagsasama si Kulot at Carl is within Cainta. Pero marami silang barkada at marami silang naririnig about the word pangho-hold up. So what if kung ang huli nilang pagsama ay may sinamahan si Kulot at si Carl ay nagso-solo?" he said.
Last Thursday, De Guzman's mother, Lina Gabriel, said one of her son's friends had told her that Arnaiz was planning a robbery.
The parents of De Guzman are now being provided protection, under the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Witness Protection Program (WPP).
Acosta said Friday that Lina and Eddie, parents of De Guzman were temporarily placed under the provisional coverage of the WPP pending their application to avail its full coverage.
Arnaiz's parents meanwhile have been provided full coverage of the program according to Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes, following the DOJ's evaluation to their application.
Privileges to be given to them following the DOJ's grant to their application includes, among others, a housing facility, financial assistance, payment equivalent to their salary as compensation for work absences and assistance in obtaining means of livelihood. (SunStar Philippines)