Cab driver: De Guzman with Arnaiz in rob try

MANILA - Taxi driver Tomas Bagcal on Monday, September 2, told a Senate inquiry that 14-yearold Reynaldo De Guzman was with 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz when the latter attempted to rob him on August 18.

His statement during the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs was contrary to his earlier claim that Arnaiz was alone when he committed the alleged robbery in Caloocan City.

Bagcal narrated that past midnight of August

18, the two teenagers, who were later identified as Arnaiz and De Guzman, had hailed him in Pasig City and asked to bring them to 5th Avenue in Caloocan City.

He said that before reaching their destination, Arnaiz declared a hold-up and threatened to kill him with a knife.

He said when he had the chance, he sought the help of the tricycle driver who noticed the commotion inside his vehicle and immediately brought the two minors alive to the police station in 9th Avenue in Caloocan.

When they reached the police station, one of the police officers instructed his two companions to just eliminate Arnaiz instead of putting him in jail.

"One of the policemen signaled to slit the neck," the driver said in Filipino, adding that the police did not ask for his name, home address, nor the taxi company he was working for.

"I thought, they could have me killed along with the suspect," he added.

Bagcal said he, along with a policeman who he identified as "Sir Lakay" headed to C-3 road where he witnessed the killing of Arnaiz.

He said that after Arnaiz stepped out of the police vehicle, he kneeled, raised his hands as he tried to plead with the cops before he was shot dead while De Guzman stayed inside the vehicle.