PNP vows to cooperate in probe on teen’s death (Sabong News)
Author
THIRD ANNE PERALTA-MALONZO
Date
MAY 25 2021
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, assured the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of its full cooperation in the investigation on the death of an 18-year-old boy with special needs during a police operation against illegal cockfighting in Valenzuela City.
Eleazar said he understands the decision of the family of Edwin Arnigo to have the NBI investigate the incident.
“We respect their choice of a National Bureau of Investigation probe and we want to assure our full cooperation with the investigation,” he said.
The PNP chief said the Internal Affairs Service will continue conducting its own investigation on the incident to determine whether operational lapses were committed by the Valenzuela City police personnel.
“Tinitiyak ko na sa oras na may makita ang IAS na paglabag ng ating mga pulis Valenzuela sa police operating procedures, hindi po natin sila kukunsintihin at agad sasampahan ng kasong administratibo,” said Eleazar.
“Nakahanda tayo na sila’y panagutin sakaling lumabas sa imbestigasyon ng IAS na may procedural lapses sa operasyon ng Valenzuela police,” he added.
He urged those who witnessed the incident to come forward and help resolve the case.
According to the police, Arnigo was among those arrested in an illegal cockfighting activity in Barangay Lingunan on Sunday afternoon, May 23.
Police said he grabbed the gun of one of the operating cops. During the scuffle, the gun accidentally went off, hitting Arnigo.
Police Master Sergeant Christopher Salcedo, to whom the gun was issued, and the three other police officers involved in the raid were placed under restrictive custody and disarmed as part of the investigative procedure. The cops were members of the Valenzuela Police's intelligence unit.
In a television interview, Arnigo’s mother Helen denied the police claim.
"Hindi po 'yon totoo na nanlaban kasi 'yong anak ko po sobrang payat eh. Tapos 'yong pulis na bumaril sa kaniya, malaking tao po. Paano po makalaban 'yong anak ko?" she said.
"Noong pagbulagta ng anak ko, ginawa pang manok, tinangay doon sa may sabong, doon sa tupada. Hindi ko alam baka palusutin nila na nagtutupada 'yong anak ko. Eh paano magtupada 'yong anak ko na 'yon? Takot 'yon sa tari ng manok," she added.
She said they have witnesses to prove this.
She said Arnigo was shot in the homeowner’s office before he was dragged by the cops to the operation site.
In a separate interview, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian said NBI investigators will visit the scene and interview Arnigo’s family on Tuesday afternoon, May 25.
