Torture marks, gunpowder nitrates found on Arnaiz

The police crime laboratory said Carl Angelo Arnaiz, 19, tested positive for gunpowder nitrates, indicating he fired a gun as police claimed earlier.

But an autopsy report conducted by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) also showed torture marks on Arnaiz’s body. Arnaiz was killed on August 18, just two days after 17-year-old Kian delos Santos was also shot dead by police.

“Mukhang nakaluhod po siya nang siya ay unang binaril, dalawa hanggang tatlong beses at nang nakahiga ay may dalawa pang putok, sa dibdib tumama iyon,” PAO medico-legal officer Erwin Erfe told members of the Senate committee on public order yesterday.

(He may have been kneeling when shot, twice or thrice. He sustained two more shots to the chest after he fell.)

Erfe said Arnaiz obtained five gunshot wounds, handcuff marks, swollen eyes and abrasions in his back and legs which indicated that he was dragged.

The teenager, who lives in Cainta, Rizal, was found by his parents in a funeral home in Calo- ocan City 10 days after he was killed.

Northern Police District (NPD) Crime Laboratory officer Chief Inspector Jocelyn Cruz said that based on autopsy examination, Arnaiz may have been shot while lying down with his back to the ground.

“Almost all of the gunshot wounds were going upwards which would indicate that possibly the assailant could be in standing position and victim Carl was in a lower position compared to the assailant,” she said.

Cruz said they found five entry and exit gunshot wound in Arnaiz’s body--- in right, lower, middle and left part of the chest, and in the abdominal region.

Cruz confirmed the findings of PAO, saying she also found bruises on the right side of the chest and on the lower back portion which made it appear that Arnaiz was dragged.

“The abrasion could have been caused due to friction to a rough surface, it is possible (that he was dragged),” she said.

Cruz said there were also contusions on Arnaiz’s wrist which may have been caused by a handcuff or excessive force of a grip.

“Based on my professional opinion, based on the physical height of the victim, the victim was quite tall, there is a possibility to fight back but because of the multiple injuries and wounds, maybe he had difficulty in fighting back,” she said.

Senior Superintendent Ligaya Sim, Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory deputy director for administration, said the paraffin test results showed gunpowder nitrates on Arnaiz’s hands, indicating he fired a gun.

Arnaiz allegedly fired at the policemen responding to a report of taxi driver Tomas Bagcal who claimed he was held up by Arnaiz along C3 road.

The policemen, Police Officers 1 Jeffrey Perez and Ricky Arquilita of Caloocan City Police Community Precinct 2 based on the incident report, said they asked the complainant to identify the suspect as they searched the area.

Police said they recovered shabu, marijuana leaves and the taxi driver’s wallet in Arnaiz’s possession.