Defense doubts bullets killed some Maguindanao massacre victims

Some of the victims in the Maguindanao massacre case may not have died from gunshot wounds, a defense lawyer pointed out during the trial on Wednesday, noting that the medico-legal expert who examined the bodies did not explore other causes of deaths. Lawyer Charlton Romero, counsel for accused Mohamad Simpal Sangki and Inspector Ariel Diongon, suggested that the victims could have died from other causes like poisoning. Romero brought this up after witness Dr. Rupert Sumbilon of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) admitted that he did not check the toxicity levels in each of the victims he autopsied. Romero said although it seemed “obvious" that the victims died of gunshot wounds based on their wounds, Sumbilon could have at least “pursued other angles" when he examined the bodies. “You have to have certain protocols. If you omit certain steps, the witness’ conclusion or opinion becomes doubtful," Romero told reporters in an interview during a break in the trial held at Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221. Aside from saying that the victims he autopsied died from gunshot wounds, Sumbilon in his testimony also told Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes that he recovered metal fragments that supposedly came from bullets that hit the victims. The defense took this detail as an opportunity to cast doubts on the prosecution’s stand that the victims died from gunshot wounds. Defense lawyer Paris Real said it was possible that the metal fragments recovered from the bodies were implants from a surgery and not from a firearm. It was not the first time that a defense lawyer in the high-profile trial floated the possibility of the victims dying from poisoning. Real had earlier said some of the victims may have died either due to insect bites or poisoning. A total of 196 suspects are accused of 57 counts of murder in connection with the killing of 57 people, including 32 journalists, in Sitio Masalay in barangay Salman in Ampatuan town on November 23, 2009. The prosecution is eyeing to add a 197th suspect in the case after it filed a complaint against former Staff Sergeant Joselito Andrada with the Department of Justice several weeks ago. Among the accused in the multiple murder case are prominent members of the influential and powerful Ampatuan clan of Maguindanao. - Mark D. Merueñas/KBK, GMA News