JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday said the department is investigating nine “wrongful” deaths associated with the anti-drug crackdown of the previous administration.
“We have nine cases that we are investigating now on wrongful death or with inconsistent death certificates with the actual case of death,” Remulla told reporters in an ambush interview.
Remulla said the remains of the nine had undergone autopsy by forensic pathologists led by Dr. Raquel Fortun upon the request of their respective families.
“Pina-follow up namin ngayon ‘yan. Pinag-aaralan ng NBI ‘yung mga nakuha naming mga papeles saka findings (We are conducting follow up on these. The NBI is also studying the documents and findings),” Remulla added.
He said the death certificates of the nine showed their deaths were due to natural causes but the autopsy revealed otherwise. The identities of the nine were not revealed.
“Natural cause was listed as the cause of death but gunshot wounds were found during autopsy,” he said.
Remilla said charges will be filed against those involved no matter who they are.
“We’ll just go with the law. Kung ano ang violations, we will pursue them. We will pursue those that have violated the law. This should not be tolerated,” he added.
Earlier, the Court of Appeals allowed the family of nine-year old Lenin Baylon, who was killed in a drug-related shooting in Caloocan City, to correct his death certificate.
Baylon was killed by a stray bullet on December 2, 2016 that also killed two women.
But his death certificate said he died from bronchopneumonia.
