Family of slain teenager with disability seeks NBI probe

MANILA, Philippines — The family of a young man who was allegedly shot and killed by police raiders in a supposed gun scuffle in Valenzuela City on Sunday is asking the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct its own probe, asserting that he would not have fought lawmen for the gun because of his learning disability.

At a press conference on Monday, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian said the family of 18-year-old Edwin Arnigo, who was diagnosed with autism, belied police reports that Arnigo was involved in illegal cockfighting during the police raid in Barangay Lingunan.

Gatchalian said the family had sought his help in asking the NBI for an independent probe and in putting the policemen in restrictive custody.

“The family has an eyewitness, the police are claiming they were only doing their jobs,” he said.

Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the Philippine National Police, confirmed that Arnigo was shot dead during the raid, and that the bullet that killed him was fired from the service firearm of Police Senior Master Sergeant Christopher Salcedo.

Apart from Salcedo, Police Corporals Kenneth Pacheco, Rodel Villar and Rex Paredes are now under restrictive custody at the behest of the family.

Arnigo supposedly tried to resist arrest by grabbing Salcedo’s gun, resulting in the scuffle. It was not clear, however, who shot him.

His family claimed that he was at the barangay homeowners’ office near the illegal cockfighting site at the time of the raid and had asked for permission to buy ice candy from a nearby store.

Arnigo’s mother said he was sitting on the bench outside their house when she went inside but could no longer find him when she got back. Witnesses told the family that he had gone to the homeowners’ office.

“When the police arrived, there was a commotion and people scampered away. When police gave chase, the person they ran into was Edwin,” Gatchalian said, quoting the family.

One of the policemen allegedly wrapped his arms around the teenager as if in a bear hug before shooting him, he said.