Nueva Vizcaya massacre suspect in DNA tests

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The trial of seaman Danilo Afalla for the massacre of his family last April will use DNA technology, according to Police Director Thompson Lantion, head of the PNP directorate for police community relations.

Lantion told The STAR yesterday that the Philippine National Police has acquired the latest technology for its crime laboratory in order to help the law enforcers and government prosecutors solve various troublesome cases.

The 42-year-old Afalla, is facing multiple parricide charges before the court here for the brutal killing of his own wife and three children.

The DNA equipment includes a machine capable of verifying the DNA structure of a certain tissue sample, like blood on a strand of hair and seeing whether it is compatible with the DNA of a suspect or the victim.

Lantion said this technology would be used in the Afalla case to see if the blood samples found inside the green Mitsubishi Adventure van of the Afallas belonged to the victims, namely, Danilo’s wife and children.

It would also be used to see if any blood of the suspect was left inside the van.

Meanwhile, Afalla’s case before the municipal trial court here was elevated to the Regional Trial Court here after Fiscal Eufrocinia Dumlao recommended its transfer due to the gravity of the crime and the strong evidences linking Afalla to the killings.

Afalla, who hails from this town, is now under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. He will be transferred to the provincial jail once his case is docketed in one of the salas of the Regional Trial Court here.

Afalla flew out of the country to Miami, USA where his ship was docked a day after the discovery of the mangled bodies of his 40-year-old wife, Recy and their children, Chinee Claire, 13; Mark Anthony, 11; and Michael Angelo, 5, last April 18.

Agents of the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Miami arrested him there last May 12 and brought him here on June 21 after a month of extradition hearings. — Charlie Lagasca