Without refs, massacre victims' bodies decomposing along with evidence

(Updated - Nov. 27 8:19 pm) Authorities lack the equipment needed to gather and preserve maximum evidence from bodies already in an advanced state of decomposition, according to Dr. Benito Molino, a forensics expert who observed the autopsies on Ampatuan massacre victims. Dr. Molino, who was engaged by non-government group CenterLaw Philippines to help investigate the massacre, said in a telephone interview with GMANews.TV that he offered to bring in a mobile X-ray machine and a radiologist, but the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) did not take up his offer. Comprehensive X-rays on the remains could have helped locate bullet fragments and establish bullet trajectories, he noted. "The bodies are already bloated. Certain details cannot be determined anymore, such as the proximity of the victims to the shooters," Dr. Molino said, adding that some physical evidence cannot be recovered, such as the size of the wound, because the wound is already enlarged. In response to Dr. Molino’s request made Wednesday, he said that the NBI on Thursday morning mobilized additional forensic consultants Dr. Reynaldo Romero, Dr. Evelyn Ignacio, Armando Mancera and Marlon Domens, and Dr. Ricardo M. Rodaje – who is based in General Santos City. As of Thursday afternoon, Dr. Molino said, at least 43 cadavers were undergoing autopsy in four different funeral parlors in Koronadal, South Cotabato province where most of the bodies were brought. He said he pitied the government doctors who had to do the gruesome task with inadequate facilities. “They have so much work with so little." Dr. Molino lamented that there were no refrigerators to store the bodies, nor even just air-conditioning. In a CenterLaw Philippines report, he said: “They could have at least used lime to slow down the process of decomposition but I did not see any indication that they did that." "When the state of decomposition is this advanced, even identification can be questioned," he added. “But I hope they are doing their best." "Sila na gumawa ng paraan para mabawasan yung amoy (They devised ways to reduce the stench)," Dr. Molino said of the funeral parlors where the bodies were being autopsied, adding that they made do with charcoal and mothballs. Completing the autopsies, initial findings Despite the limited resources for conducting proper autopsies, initial forensic findings showed that the victims suffered multiple gunshots in different parts of the body. “It looked like random shooting," said Dr. Molino. Findings also showed some signs of tissue reactions which indicate the victims might not have died instantly, and might have still been alive when they were buried. "We could not really say," Dr. Molino qualified, saying that this possibility is merely based on what he observed in the autopsy proceedings. Dr. Rodaje of the NBI, for his part, said in a separate telephone interview with GMANews.TV on Friday afternoon that all the autopsies have been completed but the semenology examinations have not yet been done. He said tha the initial findings are that all died from gunshot wounds, and slugs have been recovered in the examination. “Smooth naman yung autopsies (The autopsies went smoothly)," Dr. Rodaje said in an earlier interview Thursday. “Hindi naman kailangan ng X-ray (X-rays were not needed)," he further said when asked about the reported offer by Dr. Molino of an X-ray machine. So far, police investigators have not mentioned any case of beheading or clear indications of rape, as claimed by Buluan vice mayor Ismael “Toto" Mangudadatu whose wife, sister and relatives were among those killed. Dr. Rodaje said that the results will be released as soon as possible, adding that the reports will still be consolidated. Dr. Molino confirmed on Friday morning that the autopsies have indeed been completed, but added that "doctors who performed the autopsies refused to be interviewed" and that he had no updates as to the initial findings. When asked if there is a possibility of the investigation being whitewashed, Dr. Molino replied, "The possibility is always there, especially in these kinds of cases."– Carmela Lapeña/JV, GMANews.TV