Retrieved sacks, contents from Taal Lake must be properly handled, says forensic expert

Forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun on Sunday reminded authorities to handle the retrieved sacks and their contents with care amid the search operation for the missing sabungeros in Taal Lake.

Fortun made the remark after she observed that one of the sacks was opened and scattered on the ground.

“Medyo dismayado ako dun sa unang picture na inilabas nila, na apparently, bakit ang linis nung sako eh nanggaling sa tubig. Apparently, inilipat nila ['yung content] sa ibang sako. For you to do that at the scene — alanganin 'yun,” Fortun told Super Radyo DzBB.

(I was somewhat disappointed with the first photo they released. The sack looked so clean despite coming from the water. Apparently, they transferred the contents to another sack. Doing that at the scene raises questions. It’s questionable.)

LIVE sa DZBB: Dr. Raquel Fortun (@Doc4Dead), forensic pathologist

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“'Yung content pati 'yung sako, dapat inexamine mabuti kasi it is considered as evidence.  Ikinalat nila sa lupa eh. Binuksan nila, ikinalat at hindi man lang sa ibabaw ng body bag para hindi mawala,” she added.

(The sacks' contents must be examined thoroughly since it is considered as evidence. They opened it, scattered it on the ground, and didn’t even place it over a body bag to prevent anything from getting lost.)

Fortun said examining the contents of the sacks should be systematic and scientific.

She also questioned if the retrieved sacks contained human bones.

“Buto ba 'yan? Very sketchy ang pictures na lumalabas. Ang unang tanong, kung buto man 'yan, human or not?” Fortun said.

(Are those bones? The released pictures are sketchy. If those are bones, are they human or not?)

“Medyo duda ako sa laman ng sako. 'Yung sinasabing nasunog, just because maitim, doesn't follow na nasunog 'yan. You have to check,” Fortun said.

(I have some doubts about the contents of the sack. Just because something is black doesn’t necessarily mean it was burned. You have to check.)

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) divers have so far retrieved five sacks, of which two may contain bones. Another sack contained what was said to be charred bones, while two others had stones.

PCG spokesperson Captain Noemi Cayabyab had said the ongoing diving operations for the search of the missing sabungeros is a legitimate operation and part of a formal investigation.

She noted that the retrieved sacks were turned over to the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) for analysis.

“Kung may unusual items or objects, ini-inform natin ang SOCO at lead agency, and then once may go signal, that is when we retrieve,” Cayabyab told DzBB in a separate interview.

(We informed SOCO if we found unusual items or objects and retrieved them once there is a go signal.)

Meanwhile, PCG District Southern Tagalog commander Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla maintained that the sacks that were found were handled with integrity. 

“I think the one they are referring to is yung nasa shoreline nung first day wherein wala dun sa isang sack na nakita.Yung may puting sack na pinagpatungan, hindi kami nung nag set nun, the other authorities,” Tuvilla said. 

(I think the one they’re referring to is the one found on the shoreline on the first day, which none was found. As for the white sack used as a base, we weren’t the ones who handled it, but other authorities did.)

“In my understanding, when we also saw it in the area, hindi mo na makikita ng maayos ang integridad. Papaano mo siya mabitbit out of that area kung di mo siya ita-transfer? Mas masisira mo yung integridad kung isa isa namin hahawakan yun,” he added. 

(In my understanding, when we also saw it in the area, you cannot establish integrity of the area. How will you get what we recovered out of the area if you cannot carry them? We would compromise the integrity even more if we handled them one by one.)

Tuvilla also welcomed Fortun’s input in handling the evidence in the investigation.

“If they want to volunteer, they can ask the DOJ (Department of Justice) of their guidance. We welcome others' opinion. Ang amin, gagawin namin yung trabaho namin. We will continue to give our best na matulungan namin yung ongoing investigation (as for us, we’ll do our job. We will continue to give our best to support the ongoing investigation),” he added. 

The search for the bodies of the 34 sabungeros, who went missing between April 2021 and January 2022, was launched based on information provided by whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan alias Totoy, who revealed that they were already dead to their families. — RF, GMA Integrated News