NBI denies Aranas death a suicide

MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday denied reports that it has concluded as suicide the death of Dennis Aranas, one of the witnesses in the murder of broadcaster and environmentalist Gerry Ortega.

Aranas died with a strap of a bag tied around his neck. His body was found inside the Quezon District Jail last week. He was removed from the witness protection program because he had a separate case for murder in Quezon.

At a press conference, Dr. Antonio Vertido, Medico-Legal Officer of the NBI, clarified that asphyxia by ligature (marks in the neck), which was the main cause of death of Aranas could mean either suicide, homicide or accident.

“In the neck, there were ligature marks running backwards and upwards. This is our basis for saying that it is asphyxia but when we say hanging, it does not mean the victim committed suicide. We do not know that yet,” Vertido told reporters Tuesday.

NBI Medico Legal head Dr. Alvin David said they are still conducting an investigation if there is foul play involved in the death of Aranas.

“We cannot establish the crime scene using only the autopsy report,” David said adding that they will also conduct psychological autopsy and other examination to determine what caused the marks in the neck.

De Lima summoned Vertido and NBI medico-legal office chief Dr. Alvin David to clarify the findings on Aranas following pronouncements from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) that Aranas was murdered.

Meanwhile, NBI Calabarzon Regional Director Constantino Jose said they are conducting a full-blown criminal investigation.

He said cell mates of Aranas will also be subjected to a polygraph test.

“We’re approaching the investigation in this case as an open investigation. We are entertaining all possibilities. Could be murder, could be suicide, or other angles. We’re not closing our doors,” Joson said.

De Lima said the PAO conducted the autopsy after Aranas was embalmed while the NBI examined Aranas a day after he was discovered inside his cell.

Aranas was the alleged lookout in Ortega’s murder. He is the second prosecution witness killed. Valentin Lecias was gunned down last year.