Remulla: Deceased inmates to undergo forensic autopsy

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has committed to implement a new policy to have dead inmates undergo forensics examination.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday signed the declaration of cooperation to strengthen procedures to investigate custodial deaths of inmates.

The declaration was also signed by the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

“Our collaborative efforts with UP and the UNODC will be vital in ensuring that dead prisoners will be given justice, dignity, humane treatment and respect,” Remulla said.

The signing ceremony was Remulla’s first public event in the DOJ after being away for four months amid complications surrounding his health. He underwent a heart bypass surgery last year.

Under the agreement, the DOJ will look into the deaths of inmates under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) custody, in accordance with international standards and good practices.

The justice department will ensure that inmates who have died in prisons in Metro Manila, including the Correctional Institution for Women, will be immediately transported to designated facilities of the UP College of Medicine for forensic autopsy.

UP pathologists will conduct autopsies on the bodies of deceased inmates in accordance with international standards, among others.

The UNODC will provide technical assistance and support to ensure that collaborative efforts are maintained.

BuCor chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. welcomed the DOJ policy, which he said would bring transparency in determining the cause of death of inmates.

Catapang noted that the new protocol broadens the procedures for investigating every inmate death in prisons, regardless of whether the cause is natural or unlawful.

BuCor data showed there were 4,636 registered deaths among inmates from January 2020 to June 30 this year. Most of the causes of deaths remained unknown.

Of the figure, 467 were recorded from January to June this year.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun, meanwhile, raised concern over the number of tuberculosis cases among inmates from BuCor facilities who underwent autopsy.

Fortun said she received 100 referrals for autopsy since 2022, including forensics examination on Jun Villamor Palana, the alleged middleman in the killing of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid.

Of the number, Fortun said she has finalized the report for 21 cases. –  Nillicent Bautista