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Witness recounts Carl Arnaiz's death as murder trial starts

February 28, 2018 | 6:40pm

Witness recounts Carl Arnaiz's death as murder trial starts

Police officers Jefrey Perez at Ricky Arquilita stand accused of killing Arnaiz and 14-year-old Reynaldo De Guzman. File photo

MANILA, Philippines — Carl Angelo Arnaiz was kneeling and begging for mercy before he was shot by a police officer last year, a witness who saw the teen fall face down into a fetal position, said.

"Susuko na ako!" the 19-year-old supposedly shouted with his handcuffed hands held up, before he fell face down after three gunshots, according to witness "Joe Daniel", who testified before the Caloocan Regional Trial Court Branch 122 on the first day of the double murder trial on Tuesday.

The witness seemed anxious and distracted as he recounted the fateful night of August 18, 2017 when he was out looking for a place to eat only to become a witness to an alleged police killing.

Joe Daniel, whose identify was withheld for his safety, told the court he hid behind an electric post when he saw a police patrol car parked beside a grassy area in Dagat-Dagatan.

He said he was around 15 meters from the patrol car when he saw police officer Jefrey Perez get out of the passenger's seat and lead a man in handcuffs to the grassy area, where Arnaiz would be shot while kneeling and begging for mercy.

Ricky Arquilita, another police officer accused of the murder, later alighted from the front seat and turned over Arnaiz's body while wearing white gloves.

The witness even demonstrated before Judge Georgina Hidalgo how Arnaiz raised his hands while kneeling, and how he slumped over after being shot.

Joe Daniel said his conscience was so bothered by what he saw that he reached out to the office of Senator Panfilo Lacson for protection.

It was only when he was brought to Lacson's office on September 7 and shown photos of police officers that he recognized the two officers he saw that night.

He said he later sought the help of the Public Attorney's Office in Laguna because a member of Lacson's staff told him he would be detained at the Senate if he testifies there.

Witness identifies suspects

Asked by the prosecution if he could identify Arnaiz's killers in the court room, he pointed at the two accused cops who have been detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

Joe Daniel said he wanted to testify despite threats to his life to help bring Arnaiz justice.

He said he felt the need to testify after he saw in television reports that the place where Arnaiz's body was supposedly found after an alleged shootout was different from the place where he witnessed the killing.

"Nababagabag na po ako. Nakokonsiyensiya. Hindi na po ako nakapasok sa trabaho, hindi na ako makakain," the witness said.

"Gusto ko po tumulong sa biktima, para mabigyan ng hustisya. Para matulungan ko rin sarili ko, para maaalis ang mga iniisip ko," the witness added, while the vitim's family, who attended the hearing in bulletproof vests, wiped away tears.

The witness mentioned a shorter person inside the patrol car on the night of the killing, although it remains unclear if he was referring to Arnaiz's companion, 14-year-old Reynaldo "Kulot" De Guzman, whose body was found floating in a creek in Nueva Ecija with multiple stab wounds days later.

The trial was cut short after the witness complained of stomach cramps, prompting the defense to ask for a medical certificate on his capability to testify next hearing.

The witness' uneasiness while testifying caught the attention of Judge Hidalgo, who told him to relax.

Arnaiz's father Carlito told reporters he felt a heavy burden lifted from his shoulders now that the trial has started. He is confident that they have a strong case against the two cops.

Police accused Arnaiz of shooting at cops after allegedly holding up taxi driver Tomas Bagcal, who would later surface and testify that no shootout happened.