Maguindano massacre trial: Medico-legal officer reverses testimony

MANILA, Philippines – A medico-legal officer who autopsied some of the bodies in the Maguindanao massacre changed his answers at the trial of the case today.

During cross examination by lawyer Sigfrid Fortun, Dr. Ricardo Rodaje of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) initially admitted that there was a protocol of the agency that does not require quantifying the amount of blood of the cadaver to determine massive bleeding of the victim.

Rodaje, however, changed his answer when asked if he could present proof to this.

"And you changed your answer the second time...and you are under oath," Fortun reminded Rodaje.

Rodaje finally clarified that even though there is no standing protocol in determining the amount of blood in the victim's body, "it depends on the condition of the cadver."

Rodaje also concluded that eight of the victims he autopsied all suffered "violent deaths."

Meanwhile, other defense lawyers also pointed to some errors in the autopsy report and anatomical diagram Rodaje present before the Regional Trial Court branch 221 in Quezon City .

The medico-legal officer added that he did not take hair, tissue, and organism samples from the autopsied bodies. He said the pieces of clothing of the victims were also disposed of.

But Rodaje stressed that following such procedures in such situation will not effect the findings.

"We can ultimately conclude that the victims died of gunshot wounds," he told reporters after the court proceedings.