Despite questions on identity, ‘Kulot’ to be buried Wednesday
LONG NIGHT A grieving Eduardo Gabriel holds a silent vigil on the first night of the wake of his son Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman at the mortuary of the Barangay Hall of San Andres in Cainta, Rizal. The body of the 14-year-old De Guzman was thrown into the river in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. —RICHARD REYES/INQUIRER
The burial of Reynaldo “Kulot” De Guzman, the missing boy found floating in a creek in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, will push through on Wednesday despite the questions on his identity.
De Guzman will be buried at the Pasig City Public Cemetery at 10 a.m.
The boy’s identity was put into question following the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) DNA test indicating that the body was not of De Guzman’s because it did not match the samples taken from his parents, Eduardo Gabriel and Lina De Guzman.
READ: Body found in Nueva Ecija not 14-yr-old Reynaldo De Guzman — PNP
The parents stood firm the cadaver was that of their son’s, whom they identified through a wart on his left knee and scar on his neck.
The contention led to the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detective Group’s (CIDG) attempt to take the body from its funeral in Cainta, Rizal on Tuesday night. The parents refused to give the body, which then led to a commotion.
Gabriel insisted that the burial will push through.
READ: Police try to take ‘Kulot’ from wake
The 14-year-old was found floating on Sept. 5 in Kinamatayan Kabayo creek in the village of San Roque in Gapan City with his body riddled with 30 stab wounds and his head wrapped in a plastic and packing tape.
A Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) autopsy report indicated De Guzman was killed within 24 hours before he was dumped into the creek.
READ: ‘Kulot’ thrown into river less than 24 hours after he was killed
He was last seen on August 18 with another slain teen, 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz, after going out for midnight snacks in their neighborhood in Cainta.
Arnaiz was found dead 10 days later in a morgue in Caloocan City, killed in an alleged shootout with the police after mugging taxi driver Tomas Bagcal.
The boys’ deaths, including that of another teen, Kian delos Santos, have sparked public outrage and incited more criticisms to Duterte’s war on drugs, which has resulted in the killing of thousands of suspected drug personalities. /idl
