INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The family of one of the two high school students found dead in Signal Village National High School in Taguig City agreed to conduct a second autopsy for further investigation.
In a radio interview on Wednesday, a brother of one of the students consented to Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta to have his teenage sister (name withheld) autopsied again before her funeral on Thursday.
“Sige po, payag po ‘yung tatay ko…Gusto po talaga ng tatay ko. Ngayon po [pwede gawin ‘yung autopsy] kung makakapunta po kayo,” he told Acosta over Radyo 360.
(All right, my father agrees… My father wants a second autopsy. You may conduct the autopsy now if you could come.)
He said that it would also help to double-check the true cause of the death of his sister.
Acosta was invited to the same interview to determine whether the student’s family needs help from PAO.
READ: Police say Taguig students took unknown drug before death
“Mayroon tayong mga ultraviolet lights na mga gamit para po doon sa mga bakas ng krimen ay makikita. May kapasidad po and PAO forensic laboratory na alamin ‘yung mga misteryosong pagkamatay, lalo kung may duda ka, sasabihing suicide hindi pala suicide. Kung suicide naman makikita po talaga ‘yun,” Acosta explained.
(We have ultraviolet lights that we use to detect crime traces. The PAO forensic laboratory can investigate mysterious deaths, especially when there is doubt, like saying it’s suicide when it might not be. If it is indeed a suicide, it will be evident.)
According to the brother of the victim, the Taguig City Police spoke with their family on Tuesday and told them that no foul play was involved in the death of the students based on their final report.
The report is consistent with the police’s initial statement that no criminal activity occurred that led to the students’ death.
However, his family was still in denial regarding what happened to her.
“Samin po sa totoo lang hindi po talaga namin tanggap ‘yung nangyari, bale sa ngayon pag-uusapan pa rin po namin ‘yung insidente kung ano ‘yung mga next step gagawin,” he said.
(Honestly, we really can’t accept what happened. We will still discuss the incident and determine the next steps.)
READ: DepEd probes death of 2 students of Taguig high school
“Kung sakin po hindi po ako naniniwala [na suicide ang ikinamatay], pero ‘yun po kasi ‘yung lumabas sa result,” he added.
(In my opinion, I don’t believe [it was suicide], but that’s what came out in the results.)
He said their family was also wondering why she went to the school without an ID on the day of the incident.
He noted that she usually brings an ID with her.
When asked about the possibility of filing a case against the school, Manalo said that they would think about it only if it was proven the institution was negligent.
According to reports, the two students were found dead inside an office in one of the school’s buildings at around 11 p.m. on November 10.
The Department of Education is conducting a separate probe into the case.