A top forensic pathologist who conducted a second autopsy on the body of the alleged middleman in the murder of broadcaster Percival Mabasa said her findings were consistent with a testimony that Cristito “Jun Villamor” Palaña was killed.
“They had confirmed information that was how he was killed,” Dr. Raquel Fortun told ANC’s “Dateline.”
Fortun said she was informed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla that Palaña was suffocated with a plastic bag.
“When Secretary Remulla informed me of information that they got that it was a plastic bag, I said, ‘Okay, that is consistent with the findings actually,’” she said.
Over the weekend, Fortun, in a joint press conference with Remulla, said the independent autopsy on Palaña’s remains showed a “history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation.”
“Based on available information regarding the circumstances surrounding death, the manner is homicide,” she said.
Villamor died on October 18 inside the New Bilibid Prison, hours after self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial surrendered to authorities and identified the alleged middleman.
“When he (Remulla) showed me a text message allegedly by Mr. Villamor expressing fear for his life, that was sent before he died, you know, that’s so uncanny. You wouldn’t die a natural death like that where you got the individual knowing he’s in danger. Remember, this is not an ordinary person out in the open with liberty. You have someone in jail, not in control of his safety,” Fortun said.
For his part, Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said there were no lapses in police coordination with the Bureau of Corrections after Palaña died inside the New Bilibid Prison.
Estomo belied the accusation of suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag that the Philippine National Police did not coordinate with the BuCor to secure the middleman.
“I just want to clarify that there were no lapses in PNP. My SITG (special investigation task force) was snappy. Like what the Chief PNP said, the investigation in the Lapid cases has been good. We are the one who made a breakthrough,” Estomo said.
Estomo said the police indeed failed to instruct BuCor to secure Villamor because the bureau already told them that there is no one named Crisanto Villamor in the Bilibid.
It was later revealed the middleman was registered in BuCor’s record as Jun Villamor and not Crisanto. Eventually, it was clarified that his real name was Cristito “Jun Villamor” Palaña.