MANILA, Philippines -- The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has cleared from any culpability the doctor who performed plastic surgery on the slain man believed to be robbery gang leader Alvin Flores and asked the health department to ensure doctors are protected from being used by criminals to hide their identities.

NBI deputy director for intelligence services (DDIS) and lawyer Ruel Lasala absolved general surgeon Dominador Pedracio, owner of the Clinica de Antipolo, from facing possible charges for the plastic surgery conducted on Flores, which altered the notorious gang leader’s features.

Lasala explained that when Flores contracted the services of the surgeon, the notorious robber had used the name John Carlo Cruz Chavez.

The NBI-DDIS chief said that Pedracio could not be held liable because at the time of the plastic surgery, September 30, he was unaware that he was operating on a wanted felon.

Lasala stressed that other doctors could face a similar situation unless the DOH undertake measures to protect cosmetic surgeons.

“The surgeons, doctors or medical staff became instruments of these unscrupulous hardened criminals,” he said.

“We are appealing to the DOH to frame measures,” Lasala added.

Pedracio claimed that Flores, using the alias John Carlo Cruz Chavez, had told him he was a “closet gay” and wanted to have a more feminine look through cosmetic surgery.

The doctor further revealed that a team of three surgeons performed the 11-hour procedure on Flores, who had a nose lift, a temporal uplift, and eyelid surgery. The cosmetic surgery altered the appearance of Flores, who had reportedly been referred to the clinic by his cousin Michael.

Despite the change in facial features, Lasala assured that Flores was the person killed along with three of his henchmen in an encounter with NBI men at a Cebu resort on October 29.