The expertise of forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun will be tapped in conducting the examinations of whatever human remains that will be recovered from Taal Lake in Batangas, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Monday, July 14.

“She’ll be there. She has always been cooperative with the DOJ. She has always been receptive to our requests here at the DOJ,” DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said.

At the moment, Remulla said that Fortun is currently under medical furlough.

On reports that those involved in the case of missing “sabungeros” are also linked to the extrajudicial killings during the past administration, Remula said: “That’s as far as we can trace right now. But we have to establish clearer links to each other.”

In an interview with journalists, Remulla brushed off claims that the sacks of alleged remains that were recovered from Taal Lake were planted.

The government is currently conducting search operations in Taal Lake where, according to one of the accused in the case Julie “Dondon” Patindongan, the bodies of slain “sabungeros” were dumped.

Meanwhile, Remulla said the Philippines and Japan will hold talks in a few days on the search operation being conducted.

“Meron po makikipag-usap sa atin galing sa embassy nila tungkol sa mga kailangan natin (The Japanese Embassy will be holding talks on what we need),” he said.

The Japanese government had earlier been requested to provide equipment and expertise in searching Taal Lake for the remains of the “sabungeros.”

At the same time, Remulla brushed off claims that the sacks of alleged remains that were recovered from Taal Lake were planted.

He also assured that the government will pursue the case of the missing sabungeros even if the families of some of the victims are no longer interested.

“It cannot stop us and it cannot stop us legally from pursuing the interest of the country,” he stressed.