Manila Bulletin
Philippines
Hontiveros: Verdict on cop in Carl Arnaiz, 'Kulot' slay case a partial victory; looks forward to ICC probe
Philippines
Hontiveros: Verdict on cop in Carl Arnaiz, 'Kulot' slay case a partial victory; looks forward to ICC probe
Hontiveros: Verdict on cop in Carl Arnaiz, 'Kulot' slay case a partial victory; looks forward to ICC probe
Published Mar 14, 2023 05:14 am
The conviction of a dismissed Caloocan policeman for the murders of teenagers Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo “Kulot” De Guzman is a “partial victory,” at least, for the victims in the brutal drug war killings during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“While laudable, it should not have taken more than five years for our justice system to administer a sentence against former policeman Jeffrey Perez for the deaths of drug war victims Arnaiz and De Guzman,” Sen. Risa Hontiveros said in a statement.
“Yet again, this is a partial victory, but not the end. There are tens of thousands more families like Carl’s and Kulot’s awaiting their day in court,” the senator said.
Navotas Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 287 Judge Romana Lindayag del Rosario handed down a guilty verdict against Perez on Tuesday, March 14, ruling that he “intentionally killed” the two adolescents based on the medical findings that showed Arnaiz’ five bullet wounds, while De Guzman was stabbed 28 times.
His co-accused, PO1 Ricky Arquilita, on the other hand was absolved of any criminal liability, after he died in detention in April 2019 reportedly due to hepatitis.
As far as she is concerned, Hontiveros said no victim should have to wait for five years for justice to be served.
“Like I said in 2017, when I was protecting the witnesses in Kian delos Santos’s investigation, no victim of State violence should have to feel that the law is not behind them,” Hontiveros said.
“Our criminal justice system has not been able to keep pace with the developments of the cases of the thousands of drug war victims,” she said.
“This is why I am looking forward to the ICC (International Criminal Court) probe, so they may assist our authorities in the investigation of state-sponsored ‘Tokhang’,” she said referring to the bloody anti-illegal drug campaign launched by the Duterte administration.
“International cooperation can only expedite justice for thousands of Filipinos. ICC’s help must be welcome and necessary. So, once again, I reiterate my call for the administration to cooperate with the ICC and to rejoin the Rome Statute as a state party as soon as possible,” she said.
“We continue to demand a full accounting of the extrajudicial killings under the previous administration. Glimmers of hope are are so welcome but not enough when the system punishes only couriers and foot soldiers,” she pointed out.
Hontiveros said it is high-time to hold those truly responsible accountable for taking people’s lives away with their hands and to stop emboldening perpetrators.
“The toxic culture of impunity of the previous administration must stop pervading our society. They are not scot-free,” she stressed.
“I stand in solidarity with the families of the victims of the bloody drug war. We all deserve more than rays of hope,” the lawmaker emphasized.