The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Sunday said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) took photographs and fingerprints of the remains of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta, who died of heart failure on Friday, March 15.
Zulueta is co-accused in the Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa murder case along with former BuCor director general Gerald Bantag.
“The NBI was able to get photographs and fingerprints with the consent of the wife,” DOJ Assistant Secretary and spokesman Mico Clavano said in a text message to reporters.
Clavano, however, did not provide more details about the circumstances surrounding the reported death of Zulueta.
“I will update as soon as the results come in,” the DOJ official said.
On Saturday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla directed the NBI to conduct an in-depth investigation into the authenticity of a circulating death certificate of Zulueta.
“Exert greater efforts, act swiftly, delve deep and uncover the truth by all means possible. This calls for action [at] the soonest possible time,” Remulla told the NBI.
The DOJ has not yet received a formal report from the NBI regarding the death of Zulueta.
“We are still looking into the veracity of these reports and will update the public as soon as we receive word from the NBI,” Remulla said.