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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Remains of 176 Bilibid's PDLs to be autopsied to determine cause of deaths – Sec. Remulla

Remains of 176 Bilibid's PDLs to be autopsied to determine cause of deaths – Sec. Remulla

Published Nov 9, 2022 12:30 pm

NBP

The remains of 176 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City will be autopsied to determine the cause of deaths, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

But only 120 remains could be brought to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila for autopsy.

The remains of the 176 PDLs have been at the Eastern Funeral Homes in Muntinlupa City. Remulla said the funeral home has sought the disposition of the cadavers.

Remulla stressed that the DOJ has requested Eastern Funeral Homes not to dispose of the other cadavers that could not be brought immediately to PGH which only has a 120-cadaver capacity.

“Magmo-MOA kami ng PGH maybe by tomorrow morning at ang MOA namin will be about turning over 120 of these cadavers to the PGH for autopsy, for pathological examinations (We will sign a memorandum of agreement with the PGH tomorrow (Nov. 10) and the agreement is about the turning over 120 of these cadavers for autopsy and pathological examinations,” Remulla said at the sidelines of the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) anniversary celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

“Aalamin natin kung ano cause of death based on the carpeta and based on the death certificates and the actual autopsy to be conducted by Dr. Fortun (We will determine their cause of deaths based on their prison records, death certificates, and the autopsy that will be conducted by Dr. Raquel B. Del Rosario-Fortun,” he said.

Dr. Fortun, chairperson of the Pathology Department of the University of the Philippines (UP), conducted the second autopsy on the remains of Cristito Villamor Palana, earlier named as Jun Globa Villamor, who was an NBP inmate pointed to self-confessed gunman Joel S. Escorial as his “middleman” in the killing of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.

Her autopsy on Palana showed that the “middleman” died of asphyxiation which was consistent to the testimonies of witnesses.

“Kino-coordinate na ng isang undersecretary ang matter na yan (A DOJ undersecretary has been making coordination regarding this matter),” Remulla said.

Aside from PGH, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will also conduct autopsies on the 120 cadavers of the PDLs.

“They (NBI) have the first crack syempre kasi nga ano yan eh may scientific process ‘yan. We want to have a hand in it,” he said.

He assured that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will also be given access to these cadavers for autopsy.

Meanwhile, Remulla said the DOJ is also exerting efforts to locate the families of all the 176 dead NBP inmates.

“Ang trabaho ng DOJ ngayon and the attached agencies is to locate the families of the people. Remember they’re cadavers of people who had families. Subukan natin bigyan sila ng decent burial. We’ll try to give them decent burial (The DOJ is working to find their families. Remember they’re cadavers of people who had families. We will try to give them a decent burial),” he told journalists covering the DOJ.

TAGS: #DOJ #Remulla #BuCor #PDLs

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