NBI experts gear up for huge task of identifying Yolanda fatalities
Survivors walk through the rubble of damaged homes and a ship that was washed ashore in Tacloban city, Leyte. AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Augmentation Disaster Victim Identification (DIV) team of the National Bureau of Investigation is already on standby to go to Leyte to help in identifying the victims of typhoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan).
The team composed of forensic experts will be the lead agency because “the police and military already have lots of things to do,” Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said.
The first batch of DIV team left for Leyte Tuesday and was led by Dr. Reynaldo Romero.
Aside from the NBI, the Public Attorneys’ Office (PAO) has already sent a 20-man forensic team to Leyte led by Dr. Erwin Erfe.
The first step of both NBI and PAO is to look for a working area. Both the NBI and PAO office in Leyte were destroyed by the typhoon.
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