Forensic expert Fortun to perform 2nd autopsy on body of Percy Lapid slay middleman

Forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun is set to perform a second and independent autopsy on the body of the middleman in the killing of journalist Percy Lapid.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, Fortun said she requested that Villamor’s body be delivered to her on Tuesday morning.

“I have no idea when the body will be brought to UP. Ang sabi ko (I said) earliest would be today this morning but I have not received any confirmation,” she said.

The family of Lapid, whose real name is Percival Mabasa, requested for an independent autopsy to be done on the body of alleged middleman Cristito 'Jun' Villamor, who died inside the New Bilibid Prison.

According to Fortun, the two-page report on the initial autopsy on Villamor's body, which was released by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), is not a technical autopsy report.

Based on NBI’s report, Villamor was found to have suffered a hemorrhage in the heart.

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) also earlier released initial findings showing “no signs of physical external injuries which probably indicates a natural cause of death or no signs of foul play.”

Fortun questioned the findings because the autopsy was done after the embalming of the body. She said the body should be examined before embalming or at the crime scene.

She expressed uncertainty why sudden unexpected death syndrome or bangungot is now being considered as the cause of death of Villamor.

"Right now, mukhang it has something to do with heart as in 'yung rhythm ng heart. 'Yung mga ganyan mahirap 'yang makita sa autopsy kasi function e, dysfunction ang problema,” she said.

(Right now, it seems it has something to do with the heart as in the rhythm ng heart. That is hard to see through autopsy because it involves function e, the problem was a dysfunction.)

Asked if foul play can be seen through the autopsy, Fortun said a lot of things are possible but she pointed out that there should be a basis to support them.

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 Bilibid and a jail facility under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), respectively.

On October 20, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Villamor died inside the Bilibid on October 18.—AOL, GMA News