PAO prepares raps vs cops

MANILA - Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre announced Monday that he has ordered a parallel investigation into the death of 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz after autopsy findings suggested the boy was probably tortured, contrary to police's claim that he was killed in a shootout with lawmen.

Aguirre said that last Saturday, he directed the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the case. A written order on this would be released later Monday.

A police spot report said Arnaiz had attempted to rob a taxi driver along C-3 Road last August 18, but was shot dead by arresting officers. Marijuana leaves were reportedly recovered from the teenager.

Arnaiz' family found his body in a morgue 10 days later. They said the boy left their house in Cainta late August 17 to eat midnight snacks with a friend.

Forensic experts from the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) on Sunday found bruises and wounds on the teenager's body, which may have been caused by torture.

"Lumilitaw na ito'y binugbog. Maga po iyung 2 mata, maaaring suntok ito. Iyung katawan po, maraming malalalim na gasgas. Iyung kamay po niya ay may tandang ipinosas at may pamamaga iyung pinaglagyan ng posas," PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta told DZMM.

"Pasok na pasok po ito sa torture leading to death."

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PAO will file criminal complaints against the cops behind the boy's death later this week after their witness finalizes his testimony, Acosta added.

Director Oscar Albayalde, head of the police force in Metro Manila, said the officers involved in the incident have been relieved from their posts and placed under restrictive custody.

The Arnaiz case made headlines after police fended off allegations of irregularity in another Caloocan raid that killed another teenager, Kian Delos Santos. -- With Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News