Palace ‘profoundly dismayed’ over slay of 14-year-old

FILE: Malacañang on Thursday said it is “profoundly dismayed” over the manner by which 14-year-old Reynaldo de Guzman was killed. (Cropped from Missing poster)

MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday said it is “profoundly dismayed” over the manner by which 14-year-old Reynaldo de Guzman was killed.

“It is with profound dismay that we regard the disturbing death of 14-year-old Reynaldo de Guzman,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said during a Palace briefing.

He said Malacañang is determined to thoroughly investigate the youth’s killing and assured that there will be no whitewash.

“The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has already been ordered to conduct a thorough investigation and case build-up over the killing of the young boy Reynaldo,” he said.

“We call on authorities to bring the perpetrators of this suspicious crime to justice,” Abella said.

De Guzman’s body was found in Gapan, Nueva Ecija Tuesday.

His body bore 30 stab wounds with the head wrapped in packaging tape.

De Guzman was last seen with 19-year old Carl Angelo Arnaiz who was killed in Caloocan City in an alleged encounter with city police.

The two teenagers went missing on the night of August 17 after leaving their homes in Cainta, Rizal for midnight snacks.

Abella said Malacañang would not speculate on who was involved in the killing of De Guzman.

“The whole matter is under investigation. However, we cannot go into any speculation at this stage. It must be properly investigated, and the assurance is there will be no whitewash,” Abella said.