Taxi Driver whom Carl Arnaiz alleged tried to rob speaks up

Taxi Driver whom Carl Arnaiz alleged tried to rob speaks up



The taxi driver in Carl Arnaiz slay case confirmed the 19-year-old boy held him up.

In a press briefing with human rights group Rise Up for Life Sunday, Tomas Bagcal confirmed he identified Arnaiz as his assailant early morning of Aug. 18.

Arnaiz was killed in a supposed shootout with police in Caloocan City, after allegedly holding up Bagcal. His death came two days after the killing of another teenager, Kian Delos Santos.

The driver claimed Arnaiz tried to shoot him but the gun failed to work. He added Arnaiz tried to hit him with the gun on the head, but he was able to deflect it with his right hand.

Bagcal said he picked up his holdupper on Navotas Highway, and turned him over to the police station on 9th Avenue in Caloocan.

When asked if Bagcal had any message to the police, he claimed the killing seemed staged.

The taxi driver also claimed the police forced him to sign two affidavits, which state that Arnaiz resisted police arrest.

The taxi driver also said 14-year-old Reynaldo de Guzman was not with Arnaiz during the time.

Reynaldo was last seen in Cainta, Rizal with Arnaiz before he was found lifeless in a creek in Gapan, Nueva Ecija Wednesday with 31 stab wounds.

The Public Attorney's Office claimed de Guzman was killed to stop him from testifying in Arnaiz' case.

In a statement Saturday, Rise Up for Life and for Rights said Bagcal has been placed under protective custody.

Rise Up said it is "a network of church people and human rights advocates primarily dedicated to working with poor families affected by drug-related extra-judicial killings under the Duterte administration."