Forensic expert expresses concern over number of TB cases among dead PDLs

Noted forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun on Thursday expressed concern over the number of tuberculosis cases among persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) that have undergone autopsy. 

According to Fortun, she received 100 referrals for autopsy since 2022, including Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in the October 2022 killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid. Of the 100 referrals, she said she has finalized the report for 21.

“It’s a health concern. My marching order from [Justice] Secretary [Jesus Crispin] Remulla was, hanap ka ng foul play. Hindi lang foul play ang hinahanap natin,” Fortun said.

(It’s a health concern. My marching order from Secretary Remulla was to look for foul play. But we’re not just looking for foul play.)

“Are there preventable deaths among these? And so far, I don’t have the numbers yet, but unfortunately, we are seeing a lot of tuberculosis, and that is very telling in jail,” she added.

Fortun said employees are also at risk should there be tuberculosis among PDLs. 

“We are seeing malignancies and it’s awful because they are late stage malignancies and these people were never even diagnosed, much less treated,” she said.

She issued the remark during the signing of a declaration that seeks to improve the investigation process on the custodial deaths of PDLs under BuCor.

The declaration of cooperation was signed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla,  United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Programme Office in the Philippines Country Manager Daniele Marchesi, and UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee.

It was witnessed by UNODC Southeast Asia Representative Masood Karimpour.

According to Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, the signing of the declaration will strengthen procedures that will facilitate the swift investigation of custodial deaths.

“This will also put closure to the issue that still haunts their families as to the true and actual causes of the deaths of these PDLs,” Vaquez said in his opening remark.

“This is also the first significant step towards the establishment of a forensic institute manned by competent Filipino forensic doctors who will cater to the needs of the country… and nearby Southeast Asian countries in general,” he added.

Vasquez said that with the declaration, they will also change protocols at BuCor where bodies will be brought first to UP for examination before funeral parlors.

According to BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr., who was present during the event, they recorded 876 deaths among PDLs in 2023 and 487 from January to June 2024. He estimated an average of 1,000 deaths among PDLs yearly.

“I commit my full cooperation on this investigation of deaths of our PDLs. To UP, to Dr. Fortun, I commit to immediately transport all the human remains of our PDLs so that they will be examined. Of course, you can help us really assess the condition of our PDLs,” Catapang said in his speech.

Karimpour, for his part, said the UNODC will help by bringing the necessary resources to the Philippines.

“This project is designed to bring resources available from a forensic perspective that are needed in the Philippines. So that’s expertise. It is also equipment. It is also methodology,” he said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News