News Roundup 02 February 2023
Feb 02, 2023 • 4 min Read
Expert flags ‘superficial’ autopsies on body of Kian delos Santos | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun said on Thursday that authorities only conducted a “superficial” and incomplete autopsy on the body of Kian delos Santos, who was killed in the bloody “war on drugs” of the government in 2017.
Fortun shared at a press conference that her re-autopsy of Delos Santos’ cadaver indicates that the Philippine National Police (PNP) did not conduct a proper autopsy and made conclusions based on a “superficial cut” of his body.
Fortun questioned findings from the PNP’s autopsy indicating they found contents in his stomach. She asked in Filipino: “How did you see the contents of the stomach if you did not open the body? There’s a cut on the body that didn’t go all the way. So bola bola lang ang hiwa mo.”
She added in the press conference streamed by Rappler: “It’s not really an autopsy. The body was just cut, that’s it. We have low standards, that’s why we can’t solve cases.”
Delos Santos’ killing in 2017, caught on video footage, triggered widespread protests against then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s violent campaign to end drugs. His case was the only known murder conviction against police who carried out the operations.
Fortun added that the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO)’s second autopsy of Delos Santos’ remains was also not done correctly.
Based on the documentation of PAO’s autopsy, authorities allegedly used a “randomly positioned protractor and probe” to examine the remains, Fortun said.
Full Story at: Expert flags ‘superficial’ autopsies on body of Kian delos Santos | Philstar.com
Amnesty International calls for ‘independent, impartial’ investigation of Lapid’s killing | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Amnesty International has called for an “independent and impartial” investigation into the killing of journalist Percival Mabasa, known as Percy Lapid, as his case remains in the “preliminary phase” four months after his death.
“Amnesty International urges the Philippine government to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the investigations into the killing of Lapid and Villamor are prompt, thorough, independent and impartial in order to determine the truth and create trust from the Philippine public and the international community in the probe,” the organization said in a statement dated February 1.
“All those responsible for or otherwise involved in these killings, including those who ordered them, should be brought to justice in fair trials if there is enough evidence against them.”
Lapid was shot in October last year while he was in his vehicle, near the gate of his private subdivision in the capital region. The rights organization is also calling on foreign governments and other global groups to keep monitoring his case.
Full Story at: Amnesty International calls for ‘independent, impartial’ investigation of Lapid’s killing | Philstar.com
US, PH agree to four new Edca sites | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines —The United States and the Philippines have agreed to four new additional Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the country, a move that was met with protests from progressive groups.
The announcement came in light of the arrival of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III at the Department of National Defense (DND) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, for his meeting with Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
“Today, the Philippines and the United States are proud to announce their plans to accelerate the full implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the full agreement to designate four (4) new Agreed Locations in strategic areas of the country and the substantial completion of the projects in the existing five Agreed Locations,” the DND said in a statement.
The United States has allocated over $82 million for infrastructure investments at the existing five sites under the EDCA, according to the DND.
Full Story at: US, PH agree to four new Edca sites | Inquirer News
Koko Pimentel says PH sovereignty ‘not an issue’ for ICC probe |INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the extrajudicial killings (EJK) during the previous administration is “not an issue to” Philippine sovereignty, said Senate Minority leader Aquilono “Koko” Pimentel on Thursday.
Pimentel’s view was in stark contrast to those of other officials, such as Department of Justice chief Jesus Crispin Remulla, who called upon the ICC to respect the country’s independence, noting that the Philippines already has its own judiciary.
“This is not an issue of sovereignty because actually, we should decide to cooperate. It’s already the exercise of our sovereignty that we want to cooperate,” said Pimentel.Full Story at: Koko Pimentel says PH sovereignty ‘not an issue’ for ICC probe | Inquirer News
