Renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun believes there’s still a chance to identify the skeletal remains recently unearthed from beneath Taal Lake in Laurel, Batangas. But she emphasized that proper forensic procedures must be followed.
“There’s definitely a possibility that the remains can still be identified,” Fortun said in an interview with The Philippine STAR. “But I hope proper forensic science is applied.”
Authorities recovered the bones on Thursday from the lakeshore area, following a tip-off from whistleblower Julie Patidongan, also known as “Totoy.” The remains were reportedly found stuffed in sacks, some showing signs of burning. Additional sacks were discovered the following day.
The site is among the suspected dumping grounds of cockfighting enthusiasts who disappeared between 2021 and 2022.
Fortun stressed that identification should begin by collecting antemortem data, including physical descriptions, dental records, distinguishing features, and DNA samples from the families of the missing. “You don’t immediately go to the bones. You start with information about the missing,” she said.
She also raised concerns over how the evidence was handled at the recovery site. “Those are pieces of evidence. Why would you open the sack and dump everything on the ground? That compromises the scene,” Fortun noted.
Determining the cause of the bones’ discoloration is also critical. “If they were burned, that would suggest homicide,” she said. “Were they killed elsewhere, burned, and then dumped in the lake?”
Fortun further questioned whether the scene matched previous reports claiming the victims had been strangled, weighed down, and submerged in the lake.
While the Department of Justice confirmed the bones are human, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has yet to officially state whether the remains are in its custody. NBI Director Jaime Santiago, however, confirmed that their forensic team would examine the remains. The recovery effort involved divers from the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police.
Despite her expertise, Fortun revealed she has not been contacted about the case. “I’ve not been asked. I’m not involved. But every piece of material recovered could be crucial. You might find bullets. If it were up to me, I’d x-ray every sack before opening,” she said.
