Forensic expert to govt: Use refrigerated van to preserve victims

MANILA, Philippines - A forensic expert on Wednesday suggested that government should bring a refrigerated van to the area where fatalities from the MV Princess of Stars have been stored. This, she said, could help preserve the features of the victims for identification. In an interview aired over GMA News 24 Oras Wednesday evening, forensic expert Dr. Raquel Fortun told GMA news reporter Arnold Clavio that the body of a drowning victim – especially if it has been in water for several days- can decompose faster. “As time passes marami ng features ang nawawala. Mas magiging complicated na ang trabaho," Fortun referring to the identification of the body. Fortun said that instead of burying the recovered bodies, the remains should be placed in a refrigerated van to preserve and delay its decomposition, until the body is properly identified. The National Bureau of Investigation has dispatched a 16-man team, including a chemist who has been tasked to conduct DNA testing on the remains of the victims in the hope identifying them. Lawyer Allan Contando, chief of the Anti-Graft Division (AGD) and concurrent spokesman, said the team which was headed by Dr. Reynato Bautista, left for Cebu at 12:30 p.m. The team is composed of four doctors, two chemists, a dentist, three photographers, two fingerprint print technicians, and four medical technologists. Contando said Bautista’s team will conduct examinations in Cebu hospitals and morgues. “This is NBI’s own initiative to send a team to help there. As of now we cannot tell how long they (team) are going to stay there. During the Super Ferry stint, our NBI team stayed for about two to three months in the site," said Contado. For his part, Senator Richard Gordon - chairman of the National Red Cross - appealed to local residents who recover bodies washed ashore not to bury the dead until proper identification has been made. “Dead bodies won’t give you any diseases… walang sakit na maibibigay sa inyo yan," he said. “Wag i-bury. May kamag-anakan tayong lahat. How would you feel kung hindi mo na makita ang kapamilya mo." Gordon said the proper way of handling a recovered dead body is to put it in a body bag or blanket, placed it in a freezer and contact the authorities like the Red Cross or the Health department. According to the Red Cross, about 44 bodies have been buried in the towns of Claveria and San Pascual in the province of Masbate, Mulanay town in Quezon and Burias Island. - GMANews.TV