Ex-lawmaker’s aide tortured before ‘shootout,’ says PAO forensic team

MANILA, Philippines — The aide of a former lawmaker who was killed in a shootout last Dec. 10 was tortured before his death.

The forensic team from the Public Attorneys’ Office (PAO) conducted a re-autopsy report on Richard Santillan. The  initial report showed that he has more than 60 wounds from two sets of injuries — when he was still alive and when he was already dead.

Examination showed that he sustained 17 bullet entry wounds plus three undetermined wounds and 12 exit wounds. Dr. Erwin Erfe, head of the PAO Forensic Laboratory, said the bullet wounds were found in his head, neck, chest, arms and legs and the bullet trajectory is downwards.

Erfe added that Santillan also sustained seven incisions and lacerated wounds near his buttocks and six puncture wounds. There were also contusions, multiple abrasions, and five fractures on his arms and legs.

“Mukhang tinorture po si Richard bago siya pinatay. So dalawang episode po yun: one is sa tingin po namin noong buhay pa sya ay sinasaksak sya, multiple puncture wounds at binugbog si Richard at may mga tama rin po sa kanyan ulo,” Erfe told reporters.

(It looks like Richard was tortured before he was killed. There were two episodes. We think that he was stabbed as there were puncture wounds, and he was also punched in the head.)

“Consistent po iyon na inilagay siya sa kotse at doon binaril pero at that time mukhang patay na siya because there is no more tissue reaction,” Erfe said, referring to some of the wounds sustained by Santillan.

(It’s consistent, he was placed in a car and was shot there, but at that time he was already dead because there is no more tissue reaction.)

The forensic exam was conducted on Dec. 17. It started at 4:38 in the afternoon and ended at 12:42 a.m. of Dec. 18. /ee