Forensics expert: Chance motorist in Ampatuan slays could have been raped

Eden Sandoval broke down in tears after learning in court that her sister, Cecille Lechonsito, one of the victims in the Ampatuan massacre in 2009, could have been raped before she was killed. "There is definite evidence that the victim had sexual intercourse or sexual contact," Chief Inspector Dean Cabrera, a medico-legal expert from the Philippine National Police, told a Quezon City court on Thursday. Cabrera went further to say that the victim could have been "sexually abused" but the judge ordered it to be stricken off the records because it was "inconclusive." "The people who did this to her are monsters. I hope this does not not happen to their families too," Sandoval said. Her sister Lechonsito was among the people who did not belong to the electoral convoy of the Mangudadatu clan but were killed because their vehicles were trailing the Mangudadatu convoy.

Cabrera revealed the results of the autopsy on Lechonsito in the court of Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes on Thursday during the first Ampatuan multiple murder hearing for the year since the QC court went on a holiday break last December. Cabrera also said his November 25, 2009 autopsy on Lechonsito showed "slight contusion" in Lechonsito's genitals. Asked what could have caused the wound, Cabrera said: "It comes to mind the penetration of an erect penis or possibly a finger or any object that is hard or blunt." Cabrera said the contusion, which was as big as half of a thumb, was in its "fresh state and could have been inflicted within 24 hours from the time of her death." The victim sustained seven gunshot wounds, four of them fatal, and two bruises. The medico-legal expert conducted autopsies on 12 of the 57 victims of the massacre. A 58th victim, a photographer, is still missing. In his previous testimonies, Cabrera claimed finding indications that two other female massacre victims, Rahima Palawan, cousin of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, and journalist Leah Dalmacio, could have been sexually abused as well. [See related: Witness: Another Ampatuan massacre victim likely raped] After hearing the details of her sister's autopsy findings, Sandoval stood up and stormed out of the court room inside the Quezon City Hall of Justice. Outside the court room, Sandoval expressed her feelings about the death of her sister. "Walang kamalay-malay ang kapatid ko. Ano ang kasalanan niya? Wala! Wala! Hindi siya pulitiko," said Sandoval in a raised voice. She said her sister was an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Qatar but was on vacation in the Philippines when the massacre happened. On the day of the massacre, Lechonsito drove from Tacurong City with her husband Eduardo Lechonsito, another massacre victim, to see a doctor in Cotabato City, Sandoval said. Private prosecutor Harry Roque, who represents the families of the journalist victims, said he doubted the seminal fluid found in Lechonsito came from her husband. "Malabo na nagtalik sila dahil si Mr. Lechonsito ay may matinding karamdaman ng mga panahon na iyon," Roque said. Sandoval said her brother-in-law was suffering from hypertension. Sandoval said she had seen her sister's autopsy report in the past but it was only today that "I understood it with the expert's explanation." She appealed to the government to exhaust all legal means to speed up the resolution of the high-profile case, where former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. was among 196 accused for 57 counts of murder. Sandoval also lamented how the Lechonsitos' two daughters had become "instant orphans" as a result of the gruesome killings in Sitio Masalay in Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town on November 23, 2009. Roque said Lechonsito suffered a "triple whammy" because aside from being beaten up, she was also raped, and finally killed. "Lahat na ng puwedeng gawin sa kanya, ginawa nila." On Thursday's hearing, Cabrera also tackled the autopsy report on the remains of Lindo Lupogan, a reporter from the Davao City-based Mindanao Daily Gazette.- VVP, GMANews.TV