Carl Angelo Arnaiz didn’t die in a shootout. Caloocan City cops arrested and brought the 19-year-old — alive — to their precinct jail on Aug. 18.
It was only after this that he was shot dead, according to the third and latest statement by Tomas Marla T. Bagcal, the taxi driver who was allegedly robbed by Arnaiz before the police “shootout” that allegedly led to his death.
In a handwritten statement released by Rise Up for Life and for Rights, a multi-faith group helping those affected by President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, Bagcal said he turned over the robbery suspect to the Caloocan police.
“It was scripted,” he said of the supposed shootout.
READ: Public Attorney’s Office says Carl Arnaiz crime scene likely staged
Bagcal’s family sought sanctuary with Rise Up days after he told them what really transpired in the early hours of Aug. 18.
The taxi driver sought help after police visited their residence when he asked them to correct his first affidavit. Bagcal had wanted to change the number of hold-up suspects from two to one.
In the new narrative, Bagcal said there was only one robber.
The taxi driver said he managed to fend off the suspect after giving up his wallet. When the suspect’s gun failed to fire, Bagcal said he chased after the thief and cornered him near a street hang-out for tricycle drivers.
The drivers and a barangay (village) watchman beat up the suspect, Bagcal said. He was able to pacify the bystanders and decided to bring Arnaiz himself to the police station.
Bagcal said the suspect, a young man wearing a black jacket and a cap, was taken to the police station and, later, taken inside a cell.
Bagcal said PO1 Jeffrey Perez and Ricky Arquilita brought out the robber to their mobile car.
“Then the other, Ilocano cop, got into my taxi,” Bagcal said.
He said cops released Arnaiz near the hold-up site. Then he heard shots and saw a fallen man.
Rise Up is keeping other contents of the statement confidential for the moment.
with reports from ABS-CBN News
