FILE PHOTO: Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said the construction site inside the Department of Justice (DOJ) compound could be an archeological site following the discovery of human skeletal parts there.
Remulla said construction in the area could be deferred if that is the case.
“So we’re looking at this as a probable archaeological site. Baka, [Maybe] this might be war time,” Remulla told reporters.
“We already talked to the construction people so that when they take the cement layer, if they see any sign, stop muna yung work [the work should stop for the meantime], let them do their work as anthropologists and archaeologists,” he also said.
The three to five sets of human skeleton were excavated on Thursday afternoon at the former building where the library was located.
Anthropologist Tess De Guzman said they need to investigate the site again since the bones in the possible archaeological site were moved.
“We need to see first, investigate the social context of the area since there’s [a] problem, the remains have been transported, so we need to study again,” De Guzman said, partly in Filipino.
Archaeologist Michael Canilao would conduct a stratigraphy study or the analysis of the order and position of layers of archaeological remains on the site.
De Guzman also pointed out that every development especially in Metro Manila should have a permit from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts since the area has a deep history that traces back to precolonial times.
It was not the first time that skeleton remains were discovered inside the DOJ main office.
In 2005, five skulls and human bones were found at the construction site where the Forum Building now stands. The Forum Building is where state prosecutors hold office.
An administrative official previously said that Japanese soldiers used a garrison that once stood at the DOJ building.