A former policeman has been found guilty of two counts of murder in the 2017 killings of two youths -- former University of the Philippines (UP) student Carl Angelo Arnaiz and his male companion Reynaldo “Kulot” De Guzman. Convicted by the Navotas City regional trial court (RTC) was then police officer 1 Jefrey Sumbo Perez who was sentenced to two life imprisonments without eligibility for parole. Arnaiz was only 19 years old while De Guzman was 14 years old at the time of their deaths. In 2022, Perez had been convicted by the Caloocan City RTC of planting of evidence and torture of the same victims – Arnaiz and De Guzman. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the torture of De Guzman and six months to four years and two 2 months for the torture of Arnaiz. For planting of evidence, Perez was sentenced to two life imprisonments in addition to absolute perpetual disqualification from any public office. In the murder cases which were transferred from Caloocan City RTC to the Navotas City to conform with jurisdiction, RTC Judge Romana M.M.P. Lindayag said in her decision: “After a careful examination and perusal of the several pieces of evidence presented as well as the testimonies of all parties, this Court finds Accused Jefrey Sumbo Perez ‘guilty’ of the crimes of Murder punishable under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code, and in relation to Section 5(a) of Republic Act No. 8369 or the ‘Family Courts Act of 1997’ for the deaths of victims Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo De Guzman alias ‘Kulot.’” Aside from the two prison terms, Perez was ordered to pay the family of Arnaiz P90,000 in actual damages, P100,000 civil indemnity, P100,000 moral damages, and P100,000 exemplary damages. He was also directed to the pay the family of De Guzman P100,000 civil indemnity, P100,000 moral damages, and P100,000 exemplary damages. Just like before the Caloocan City RTC, the Navotas City RTC dismissed the case against Perez’s co-accused then PO1 Ricky Arquilito on account of his death. Case records showed that Arnaiz and De Guzman were last seen together on Aug. 18, 2017 in their neighborhood in Cainta, Rizal. Perez and Arquilita claimed Arnaiz was armed with a firearm and died in a gunfight while fleeing on Aug. 18, 2017 in Caloocan City after having allegedly attempted to rob a taxi. De Guzman’s body, on the other hand, was found on Sept. 5, 2017 in a creek in Kinabayuhan in Gapan City with a packing tape wrapped around his head and his body bearing around 30 stab wounds. In convicting Perez, Judge Lindayag also said: “In the instant case, the testimony of the eyewitness of the prosecution, in the person of Joe Daniel, seemed to be impressed with considerable and substantial details and information, thus, making it almost impossible to be only contrived to merely implicate Accused Perez and Accused Arquilita. “Verily, Joe Daniel provided this Court, throughout his entire testimony, a complete and detailed account of the whole incident, from the moment he personally saw the victims, together with both Accused Arqulita and Accused Perez, until the unfortunate death of Carl Arnaiz. Joe Daniel did not only testify and describe the events chronologically, but he moreover provided particular details, which only a credible eyewitness could convey and deliver.”