If the autopsy results of any drug war deaths are sent to them, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has shown a willingness to probe the allegations that they were fabricated.
During a press conference on Wednesday, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said that the police department will have to authenticate and countercheck whether specific autopsy findings were allegedly fabricated, as reported by senior forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun.
On Tuesday, Fortun said she looked at exhumed bodies of drug war victims, including some who were said to have died of natural reasons but were actually shot during the anti-drug operation.
“I understand na si Dr. Fortun conducted their own independent findings pertaining to this cases. On the part of the PNP we have to also validate and see for ourselves kung ano-ano ‘tong mga cases na ito, mahirap magbigay ng general statement considering na hindi namin alam kung ano ‘yong mga cases na ‘ika nga ay nag-undergo ng independent forensic examination,” said Fajardo.
“But nonetheless we respect their independent findings on the part of the PNP, again ‘yong ating mga forensic doctors we’d like to assume that they perform their duties within the bounds of laws. So if there are some irregularities then we would conduct our own investigation,” she added.
PNP Public Information Office (PNP-PIO) chief Brig. In a separate statement, Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba said that forwarding Fortun’s report to the police force would be a huge help.
PNP open to probe alleged falsified autopsy reports of drug war victims
“We would appreciate if these findings will be endorsed to us, so we can also probe and look into this matter. The PNP has always been transparent and cooperative. One example ay ang mga ginagawang imbestigasyon ng DOJ (Department of Justice) on drug-related cases,” Alba said.
“Napatunayan naman ng PNP na bukas kami na makipagtulungan, as long as idadaan sa tamang proseso,” he added.
Seven of the 46 bodies she autopsied were said to have died of “natural causes,” such as sepsis, heart attack, pneumonia, and hypertension, but one of them had gunshot wounds, according to Fortun.
Because, as Fortun confessed, not all of the autopsy reports came from PNP — 23 of the victims’ autopsies were done by PNP, and National Bureau of Investigation doctors did three — Fajardo stated it would be helpful to have a list of the reexamined bodies.
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