Cops in Carl -‘Kulot’ slay plead not guilty

The two former Caloocan City police officers tagged in the killing of teenagers Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo “Kulot” De Guzman pleaded not guilty anew during their arraignment in a Navotas court on Friday.

Police Officers 1 Ricky Arquilita and Jefrey Perez faces double murder charges before the Navotas City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 287.

Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors refiled the murder raps before Navotas RTC after Judge Georgina Hidalgo of the Caloocan City RTC Branch 122 dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.

During cross examination of an eyewitness last March 2, it was learned that the supposed killing of Arnaiz took place in adjacent Navotas City.

Hidalgo also denied the motions of the accused to dismiss not just the murder charges, but also the charges of torture and planting of evidence, so these cases remain under the Caloocan court.

Arnaiz, 19, was shot dead by the two police officers reportedly after robbing a taxi driver in the CaloocanNavotas area.

His family, however, said he went out late at night with De Guzman to buy snacks.

Arnaiz’s relatives later tracked down his remains to a morgue.

De Guzman’s supposed body was later discovered in a creek in Nueva Ecija days later.