DOJ to publish names of unclaimed Bilibid cadavers

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will share the names of the unclaimed cadavers of New Bilibid Prison inmates at the Eastern Funeral Homes, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday.

“Yes, we will publish them. I have the list already,” Remulla said in an interview.

He said he would give instructions to his staff as he will be leaving for Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday to attend the UN Human Rights Council’s periodic review.

Around 176 bodies of deceased inmates were still at the Eastern Funeral Homes, the sole accredited funeral home of the Bureau of Corrections in Muntinlupa City, in Alabang since December 2021.

Remulla said they would try to contact the families of the inmates.

“[W]e try to reach their families at the last known address, and if they do not respond, then we will give them a decent burial or cremation. Wala naman tayong choice eh, nandyan na yan,” he said.

In a separate ambush interview, Remulla said around nine unclaimed cadavers had been buried, leaving 167 to be transferred to the University of the Philippines College of Medicine.

“Information lang, nilibing nine. Nine pinalibing. We stopped already from the nine,” he said.

In a message to Justice beat reporters minutes later, however, Remulla said 10 bodies were buried, leaving 166 to be transferred.

“Ten were buried already due to decomposition. 166 left,” he said.

According to Remulla, forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun will visit the establishment with DOJ staff to check the status of the bodies.

“Pero ano yan pupuntahan ni Dr. Fortun sa sabado kasama ng DOJ staff para identify nila muna yung status tapos I’ve asked, I’ve authorized Undersecretary Cadiz to sign any agreement with the UP College of Medicine for this purpose,” he said.

(Dr. Fortun will visit them on Saturday with the DOJ staff to identify their status and I’ve asked and I’ve authorized Undersecretary Cadiz to sign any agreement with the UP College of Medicine for this purpose.)

Remulla found it "irregular" that there were so many bodies coming from one place.

“Kasi irregular to eh. So many people in one funeral home coming from one source. Might as well check it out. Baka naman the bodies want to tell other stories,” he said. — RSJ/VBL, GMA Integrated News