PAO doubts DNA test result saying body found is not that of Kulot

The chief of the Public Attorney's Office on Monday cast doubt on the results of the DNA test on the body found recently in Nueva Ecija which led the police to say the victim was not Reynaldo "Kulot" de Guzman.

PAO chief Attorney Persida Acosta said the parents of De Guzman were the ones who identified the remains, and based on the photos of Kulot given by the parents, it was a match, according to a report on Balitanghali by Dano Tingcungco.

Acosta said the reliability of the DNA test depends on the reliability of the specimen.

"Ang DNA reliable yan kung yung specimen ay safe specimen. Kapag ho nag-mishandling pwedeng hindi tumatama ang findings. Mga magulang mismo ang nag-identify sa cadaver," she told reporters.

Reports said De Guzman's parents were able to identify him through a birthmark at the back of his ear and a wart on the left knee.

Acosta said it was "very unfair" for the PNP to claim that the body found in Nueva Ecija was not De Guzman's.

"Parang may nanggugulo na ho sa kasong ito. Sari-sari ang lumalabas pero ang ano ko lang sa ating mga kasama sa media maging maingat po tayo sa paglalabas ng news," she said.

Based on PAO's comparative analysis, the body found in Gapan, Nueva Ecija in a creek was that of Kulot.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday the body was not De Guzman's, citing results of DNA test.

Deputy Director General Fernando Mendez said the buccal swabs taken from the parents of De Guzman did not match the DNA from the body found at a creek in Nueva Ecija.

De Guzman, 14, was last seen alive with slain teenager Carl Angelo Arnaiz. —KG/KBK, GMA News