Echanis or not, Anakpawis took body found in Novaliches without authority, says QCPD

Police on Tuesday explained that they forcibly took back the body found in Novaliches, Quezon City from a funeral parlor after members of Anakpawis allegedly got the remains without having the authority to do so.

Quezon City Police District-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit chief Police Major Elmer Monsalve maintained that the body was that of Manuel Santiago, contrary to the claim of Anakpawis and the wife that it was National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Randall Echanis.

Monsalve said only the wife, children, or parents could claim a cadaver and that the least who could claim it is the sibling of the victim.

"Kinuha nila 'yung bangkay doon sa pinaglagakan ng imbestigador kahapon. Eh paano kung babalikan ng imbestigador, wala na 'yung body, pa’no na 'yun?" Monsalve told GMA News Online.

"Tumawag dito sa akin, ang sabi okay na raw sa CIDU. E wala kaming binibigyan ng release diyan, ang procedure niyan pupunta muna dito 'yung pamilya, kukunan ng statement, at may dala siya na documents na kamag-anak ko 'yan, anak ko 'yan, magulang ko ‘yan pero wala," he added.

"Bakit nila inilabas? Ang layo ng itinakbo nila. From A. Bonifacio to Quezon Avenue," he said.

Due to this, Monsalve said Pao Colabres, a paralegal, was arrested while his companion remains at large. He added that Colabres has undergone inquest for alleged obstruction of justice.

"In-inquest ko na sa obstruction of justice," Monsalve said.

A police report stated that Colabres, 49, and his companion, attorney Luz Perez, appeared at Pink Petals Funeral Services in La Loma and claimed that the body was that of their relative.

Police also said the two pretended that they had coordinated with the CIDU and were given approval to claim the body. Afterwards, they immediately transferred the cadaver to St. Peter’s Funeral Home in Quezon Avenue.

Perez eluded arrest, police said.

In response, Anakpawis denied that it had transferred the body from Pink Petals Funeral to another funeral of its choice.

"There is no truth that we transferred the body from Pink Petals Funeral to the funeral of our choice. And in the first place, the families don’t need PNP’s consent to transfer the body when the funeral has already ordered its release," Anakpawis said in a statement.

The group also shared a photo prior to the external examination of the body, noting that it was done in proper coordination and in the presence of a police physician.

Anakpawis said this was for the purpose of issuing a death certificate in order for the body to be released.

Anakpawis also said the PNP doctor was in close coordination with the CIDU. The group identified the physician as Police Major Annalee Palima of QCPD Station 10 Crime Laboratory.

According to Anakpawis, Colabres was nabbed after Echanis' body was forcibly taken by policemen from the La Loma station

"A member of the paralegal team who is keeping track of the remains of Randy Echanis, after it was forcibly taken by the police into custody, was illegally nabbed by the La Loma Police and brought to the PNP Station 1," the group said.

"The member of the paralegal team, identified as Pao Colabres, is now being taken at the Camp Caringal, QC, to be charged with 'obstruction of justice,'" it added.

Anakpawis had said Echanis, 72, and an unidentified neighbor were killed on August 10.

QCPD chief Police Brigadier General Ronnie Montejo had insisted that Echanis wasn't among those killed.—AOL/BM, GMA News