Two charred bodies belong to missing Koreans — DNA test

CEBU, Philippines - The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples of the two victims who were found charred inside a Hyundae Santa Fe vehicle in Danao City have matched with the DNA samples sent by the Korean Embassy.

Chief Inspector David Alexander Patriana, DNA examiner of the PNP Crime Laboratory -7, said that DNA samples sent by the Korean Embassy were taken from the biological parents of the victims.

"It's the Korean Embassy who sent the samples to Camp Crame," Patriana said.

The DNA samples were taken from the femur of the victims that were not burned.

Crime Laboratory personnel said that macro-etching result of the burned vehicle also helped the police in the investigation as it led to discovery of the identity of the owner of the vehicle.

With this, Cebu Provincial Police  Office chief, Sr. Supt. Noel Gillamac, said that the two missing bodies and the missing Koreans matched.

They are identified as Kim Mingyu alias Billy and Yun Sangwon alias Esteve.

Gillamac said that the Special Investigation Task Group which he headed will conduct another case conference to determine what appropriate charges to be filed against the suspects and to identify the witnesses that they can use in filing of the case.

"Ang atong pangutana karon what case to be filed and how strong is the witnesses para ma-file nato ang multiple murder case sa suspect nato," he said.

On the other, Patriana hopes that Region 7 will have its own DNA Laboratory to immediately address the needs of police when it comes to investigation processes involving human identification.

He said that it will not only benefit Region 7 but also of Mindanao area.

As of now only Camp Crame has a DNA Laboratory and Cebu will be second in the country if there is any.

"Kung sa Manila naman gud morag costly na unya nagtipun-og na pud ngadto ilabi na ug dinalian," Patriana said.

He claimed that the DNA equipments and apparatus would cost roughly around P25 million.

"But what is P25 million if we need an immediate result in big cases ug sa atong matabangan," he said.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama favors the construction of a DNA facility in Cebu as he plans to sit down with the Council to discuss the matter.

"(Interpol Secretary General Ronald) Noble is actually just a call away. I'll try to call him," said Rama.

Rama said it is unpleasant to see bodies that are still scattered on the ground days after a tragedy recalling the sinking of the Princess of the Orient and among other shipping vessels that sank in the past.

"I felt so bad that wala dayon ma-bury ang mga bodies. Mitingon nato 'na," the mayor said.

In most cases, cadavers from a tragedy are not immediately buried because identifying them through DNA sampling takes a long process, thus local police clamors for its own DNA facility in Cebu. — (FREEMAN)