Police to exhume witness’ body

LUCENA CITY, Philippines – A Laguna regional trial court (RTC) judge issued an order on Tuesday allowing a special police task group to exhume the remains of a witness in the killing of Palawan broadcaster and environmentalist Gerry Ortega.

But Judge Agripino Morga of the RTC Fourth Judicial Region directed the task group headed by Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos, Quezon police director, to first secure a written authority and consent from the family of witness Dennis Aranas.

Police sought the exhumation for a third autopsy on Aranas’ remains following conflicting findings by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).

Aranas was found dead in his detention cell at the Quezon provincial jail last Feb. 8. The NBI said he died due to asphyxia by hanging, though it later added that this was “inconclusive.” The PAO, however, hinted of foul play.