DNA test by NBI on De Guzman eyed

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II is considering directing the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to do a DNA test to determine if the dead body found in Nueva Ecija is Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman

“I might ask the NBI to conduct a second DNA examination to finally determine the identity of the body,” Aguirre said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted its own DNA test on the body and concluded that it is not De Guzman.

But the boy’s parents, Eduardo Gabriel and Lina Sta. Ana, insist that the body they buried yesterday was their son.

Aguirre said he is giving free rein to Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida Acosta, whose office is the legal counsel of the couple, on what to do with the case.

“I am giving PAO a freehand to decide on the matter,” Aguirre said.

Acosta has described the DNA test conducted by the PNP as illegal.

“The panel of PAO lawyers handling the case of the murder of Reynaldo de Guzman is of the opinion that the taking of consent and DNA sample in the absence of PAO lawyers was illegal, and suspicious in that the body of Reynaldo de Guzman was positively identified by the family, the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) and the CHR (Commission on Human Rights),” Acosta said.

“There was no issue at all on the identity of the cadaver and that there are no other claimants,” she added.

The body was recovered from a creek in Gapan City last September 5.

De Guzman was last seen alive with 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz in their neighborhood in Cainta, Rizal last August 18.