NBI: CA Justice Pizarro shot in the head

The autopsy of the remains of retired Court of Appeals (CA) Justice Normandie Pizarro revealed he was shot from the back of his ear, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Wednesday.

"He was shot from the back of the right ear and exited on the upper left portion of head," NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin said when asked about the autopsy findings.

NBI investigators have returned to the crime scene in San Simon, Pampanga, where Pizarro's car was found. Agents will do another forensic investigation on the car, Lavin said.

The bureau confirmed last Monday that the mutilated remains found in Capas, Tarlac on October 30 were those of Pizarro, who was last seen leaving a hotel-casino in Pampanga seven days prior.

The NBI had to run DNA tests because the body had missing fingers and an amputated hand.

According to the NBI, a witness has claimed that three men were behind the gruesome killing.

Pizarro is one of the more than 50 lawyers -- including judges and prosecutors -- who were killed in the Philippines since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016.

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta condemned the murder.

“I ask our law enforcement agencies to press on with their investigation so that the perpetrators of this barbaric act can be caught and brought to justice,” Peralta said.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said investigators are looking into Pizarro's work at the CA among other possible motives behind the killing.

“The NBI is still investigating. But this will be solved very soon. The NBI is looking at all possible angles, and Justice Pizarro’s previous works in the Court of Appeals is surely one of them,” the secretary said.

Pizarro, who spent 13 years in the appellate court, handled and dismissed cases filed against pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles and former Palawan governor Joel Reyes.

He retired in 2018.—LDF, GMA News