Forensic expert eyes more tests on body of Percy Lapid slay 'middleman'

Forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun on Tuesday said they are planning to conduct more tests on the body of the deceased New Bilibid Prison inmate who supposedly served as the middleman in the plot to kill broadcaster Percy Lapid.

“This is also just preliminary. We're planning to do other tests,” Fortun said in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita.

Fortun recently conducted a second and independent autopsy on the body of Cristito Villamor, who died inside the New Bilibid Prison.

Based on the preliminary findings, Fortun said the remains were found to have a “history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation,” which is consistent with an affidavit narrating how he was supposedly killed.

“Very telling 'yun. Nung una, sinabi na siya mismo ay nagsabi na in danger ang buhay niya and he communicated and there's an evidence of it. True enough, namatay siya shortly after,” she said.

(That was very telling. At first, he said his life was in danger and he was able to communicate that and there's evidence of it. True enough, he died shortly after.)

“And the next is an account, an affidavit by someone na [that is] describing how he was killed and it is consistent,” she added.

On Saturday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is now in custody of seven people who claimed that Villamor's death was not an accident but planned.

Fortun's findings ran contrary to the the Bureau of Corrections' (BuCor) initial findings that said there were no signs of physical external injuries on Villamor's body, which may indicate that no foul play was involved.

Aside from this, traces of methamphetamine or shabu were also found in Villamor's urine sample.

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, the same day Escorial was presented to the media. —KBK, GMA News