BJMP: NBI autopsy shows Aranas died of asphyxia

MANILA, Philippines - A suspect-turned-state witness in the Gerry Ortega slay case died of asphyxia due to hanging, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said Friday citing the result of the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) autopsy.

In a report to Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, BJMP director Chief Superintendent Diony Mamaril said the autopsy by the NBI seems to affirm initial reports that Dennis Aranas died by hanging.

Earlier reports said that Aranas was distraught after he was removed from the Witness Protection Program and hinted of committing suicide.

"Please be informed that according to the autopsy report conducted by Antonio Vertido, Medico Legal Officer, NBI, the cause of death of inmate Dennis Aranas is asphyxia by hanging,” Mamaril said in his report.

Roxas has ordered a thorough probe into Aranas' death. Aranas was considered a vital witness in the killing of environmentalist and radio commentator Ortega in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan in January 2011.

The family of Ortega raised suspicions that Aranas could have been murdered in jail.

"Tinitiyak ko sa pamilya ni Aranas at sa publiko na mananagot ang may sala oras na mapatunayang nagkaroon ng foul play sa pagkamatay ni Aranas. Uunahin natin ang pagsasagawa ng autopsy at kung bakit hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataon ang SOCO na siyasatin ang lugar kung saan siya natagpuang patay," Roxas said.

"Kung may foul play at cover-up sangkot ang sinumang tauhan ng BJMP, agad kong ipag-uutos ang pagsasampa ng kaukulang kaso laban sa mga ito at ang pagtatanggal sa kanila sa tungkulin," he added.

For his part, Mamaril said the Philippine National Police in Lucena City, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Quezon Province and the NBI will continue the joint probe on the death of Aranas.

Mamaril said the warden of Quezon District Jail and the BJMP Regional Director were directed to explain the significant delay in the submission of reports and other concerns in the handling of the case.

The BJMP said Aranas’ remains was turned over to his brother, Aljohn, almost 12 hours after he was found dead inside his detention cell on Tuesday.

Aranas was found by fellow inmates hanging from the ceiling with a strap of shoulder bag around his neck Tuesday morning.

Aranas was the lookout in the murder of Ortega and was placed under the Department of Justice’s WPP, but was removed from the program last year.

He was transferred to the Quezon District Jail after cases of murder and frustrated murder, not related to the Ortega case, were filed against him in Gumaca, Quezon.

In a separate report submitted by the Quezon District Jail, investigator Senior Jail Officer 3 Richard Benedictor said Aranas hinted of killing himself a day before his death allegedly due to frustrations over his removal from the WPP which deprived his family of money.

Benedictor cited the account of an inmate, Manuel Luis Ilao who said that at around 3 p.m. Monday, Aranas intimated to him that he “can’t be detained any longer because the financial support of the DOJ given to him for being under the witness protection program was stopped and his family was suffering from hunger.”

"He also told of his problem regarding his live-in partner who was reportedly frequently seen with another man. He saw Dennis crying while narrating his problem," Benedictor said, recalling Ilao’s account.

The report said Aranas even pawned his electric fan for P300 to one Rolando Desembrana, but the lost the cash.