Cabbie in Arnaiz slay now in NBI custody

Arnaiz was allegedly killed by members of the Caloocan police after he reportedly robbed Bagcal of his earnings also last month. (Government of the Philippines)/FACEBOOK)

MANILA— The taxi driver, who was allegedly robbed by slain former University of the Philippines student Carl Angelo Arnaiz, is now under the protective custody of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Tomas Bagcal, 54, accompanied by his family, representative of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), and a representative of Rise Up arrived at the NBI main office in Manila around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

He presented himself before the office of NBI Deputy Director Antonio Pagatpat.

Bagcal is one of the respondents in the double murder complaint filed by the relatives of Carl Angelo Arnaiz and 14 year-old Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman DOJ.

Bagcal said he is very much willing to cooperate in the investigation and share what he knows about the death of Arnaiz and de Guzman.

“We look at it as a most welcome development in our search for justice for the victims,” Aguirre said.

“What happened today proves that our countrymen can trust the agencies of the government. They can trust the NBI, they can trust the DOJ, they can trust us,” he added.

Bagcal, who is is under the custody of the group Rise Up for Life and Rights — a network of church people and human rights advocates dedicated to working with poor families affected by drug-related extra-judicial killings.

Earlier, Aguirre said once Bagcal comes out and talks to the NBI, he will be provided protection under the Witness Protection Program (WPP).

The DOJ earlier included under the provisional coverage of the WPP the parents of Arnaiz and Kian Loyd Delos Santos who was allegedly killed by members of the Caloocan police last month.

Arnaiz was allegedly killed by members of the Caloocan police after he reportedly robbed Bagcal of his earnings also last month.

Last week, Bagcal faced the media where he said Arnaiz did rob him last August 28 along C3 Road, Caloocan City.

He said he sought the help of concerned citizens who caught up with Arnaiz and mauled him.

He added Arnaiz was alive when he brought him to the police station.

The policemen brought him and Arnaiz to C3 Road where he later heard gunshots and learned that the latter was already dead.