'HOMICIDE'

‘Middleman’ in Percy Lapid slay died of ‘plastic bag suffocation’ —forensic expert Fortun

Forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun on Saturday said the results of her independent autopsy on the body of Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid, showed that the remains were found to have a “history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation.”

At a virtual press conference, Fortun also said Villamor's body was found to have “pulmonary congestion, edema, and hemorrhages.”

Fortun said the autopsy findings showed “no gross morphologic cause of death,” which is “consistent with the reported asphyxia.”

The forensic expert added that there is information that the deceased expressed fear for his life shortly before his death and that he died from suffocation by means of a plastic bag over his head.

“Based on available information regarding the circumstances surrounding death, the manner is homicide,” Fortun said.

The Department of Justice shared on Twitter on Saturday the screenshots of the autopsy report done by Fortun.

During the briefing, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla said he requested Fortun to conduct another autopsy on Villamor’s body upon the request of Lapid’s son and the slain journalist’s brother Roy Mabasa for an independent medico-legal examination.

Lapid, host of an online broadcast program and columnist for a tabloid, was shot dead in Las Piñas City on October 3.

On October 18, self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial was presented to the media following his surrender.

He identified several persons involved in the plot to kill Lapid including two middlemen, identified as Villamor and Christopher Bacoto, who are detained at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) and a jail facility under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), respectively.

On October 20, Remulla said Villamor died inside the NBP on October 18.

Remulla said the Justice department is investigating the possibility that the death of Villamor may have been a case of murder. —KG, GMA News