Remulla: PGH to do autopsy on 120 of 176 corpses of Bilibid inmates in Muntinlupa funeral home
MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Wednesday said that 120 of the 176 cadavers of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) found in a Muntinlupa City funeral home would be turned over to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for autopsy.
In an interview with reporters, Remulla said he would draft a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to enable PGH to examine the corpses and determine the causes of their death.
Some 176 unclaimed dead bodies of PDLs from the New Bilibid Prison were discovered at the Eastern Funeral Homes during the Percy Lapid murder case investigation.
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“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. Aalamin natin kung ano cause of death,” Remulla said.
(We will have a MOA with PGH, maybe by tomorrow morning. And the MOA will be about turning over 120 of these corpses to the PGH for autopsy, for pathological examinations. We will determine the cause of death).
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According to him, 120 cadavers is the capacity of PGH. He did not mention anything about the remaining 56 corpses of PDLs.
Remulla also said that a DOJ undersecretary is coordinating with the Eastern Funeral Homes for the turnover of the 120 dead bodies to PGH and that the results of the autopsies will be given first to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). However, a copy will eventually be furnished to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The NBI is under the DOJ.
“The NBI will be given the first crack at this kasi (because) it’s a DOJ undertaking, but the PNP will be given a similar copy of all the results kasi nga (simple because), joint naman ang aming operation na ito (it’s a joint operation). It’s also a police matter,” he said.
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