The Department of Justice (DOJ) has sought assistance from the Anthropology and Pathology Departments of the University of the Philippines Manila for the DNA testing of skeletal remains recovered during the retrieval operations for the missing sabungeros in Taal Lake.
This move comes after the Philippine National Police (PNP) admitted it does not have the capability to conduct DNA testing and analysis of the recovered specimens.
“Secretary [Remulla] still believes that, especially with teeth, lalo na po ang buhok, na puwede pa natin ito maDNA,” DOJ Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Mico Clavano said during a media briefing on Thursday.
“We are currently asking help from the UP Anthropology Department, as well as, the Forensic Pathology Department through Dr. Raquel Fortun,” he added.
Clavano also mentioned that the DOJ is reaching out to the Japanese government for additional support in analyzing the remains.
“Alam naman natin hindi lang isang paraan or not only one method that we use in DNA testing. Marami po yan. And we would like to get the best experts, the best minds, the best technology for us to be able get to the bottom of this,” he emphasized.IMT
