Remecio buried as DNA test results hang
Michael Angelo Remecio, the latest slain teenager from Caloocan City, was laid to rest yesterday with questions on the cadaver’s identity still unresolved, just like in the case of Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has not conclusively identified the body found in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan last Sept. 13 as that of Remecio as it has not yet released the DNA test results conducted on the 16-year-old’s remains.
Police probers also admitted having difficulty confirming the identity of the cadaver because it was already in an advanced stage of decomposition when found.
The body was initially claimed by Remecio’s parents based only on a scar on his back and the clothes that belonged to Michael Angelo, who was last seen alive on Aug. 25.
But upon the request of the family, the forensic team of the Public Attorney’s Office conducted anthropological and dental examinations confirming that the cadaver was that of their son who went missing last Aug. 26.
PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta revealed the exam conducted by resident forensic expert Dr. Erwin Erfe showed that the cadaver did not have an appendix and had bone fracture in the left elbow.
“Based on our forensic report, the parents again positively identified the cadaver as their son’s because he had previous appendectomy and injury in the left elbow,” she explained.
A forensic dental exam by PAO odontologist Anastacio Rosete also showed that the cadaver was about 16 to 18 years old.
As to the cause of death, the PAO chief bared that the autopsy showed “blunt injuries and bone fracture in the nape area and signs of bleeding at the back.”
With these findings, Remecio’s parents were convinced that the dead was their son and decided to proceed with the burial yesterday.
In De Guzman’s case, the PNP conducted a DNA test and supposedly came up with results after just a few days, showing that the cadaver might not be his as the DNA sample did not match with those taken from his parents.
The PAO also conducted forensic exams on the body and confirmed that it was De Guzman’s.
De Guzman’s parents bought PAO’s finding and also cited their facial recognition of their son in deciding to proceed with the burial despite PNP’s findings.
Meanwhile, Acosta said she would ask Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to also order the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a parallel probe on Remecio’s case as he did in the cases of De Guzman, Kian Loyd delos Santos and Carl Angelo Arnaiz.
Remecio’s body was stuffed in a sack with his hands tied with nylon cord when found by scavengers.
Police probers were earlier reportedly eyeing love triangle and his alleged involvement in illegal drug trade as possible motives in the killing. Person of interest
In a related development, a person of interest on Remecio’s death is now under the protective custody of the city police of San Jose del Monte.
San Jose del Monte - PNP chief Supt. Fitz Macariola told The STAR that the unidentified person of interest is a 16-year-old from Bagong Silang, Caloocan City who admitted in front of his mother his participation in Remecio’s death and claimed that four of them were responsible for the crime.
The teenager was among the persons last seen with Remecio before the latter’s lifeless body was found, according to a report by GMA News Online.
Macariola maintained, though, that the person of interest is not yet considered a suspect and is subject to double checking by police investigators as previous information they received showed some inaccuracies.
He added that the person of interest was pinpointed last Saturday by a 13-year-old boy who claimed to have witnessed the crime. The boy was later released to his parents.
Meanwhile, PNP Central Luzon Regional Police Director Chief Supt. Amador Corpus told The STAR that the autopsy report conducted by the Bulacan crime laboratory office showed that the cause of Remecio’s death was undetermined because of the advanced stage of decomposition and the body had been soaked in water for some time.
“DNA samples were also submitted to the crime laboratory for the examination,” Corpus added.
Earlier, the Caloocan City police arrested a suspect in Remecio’s killing, according to a report aired over radio station dzBB.
Safety of teenagers
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) episcopal commission on youth executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta yesterday called on parents to take action to ensure the safety of their children, especially teenagers, amid the recent spate of alleged youth killings by the police.
“We hope that they can encourage their children to see their homes as the best place to stay for them,” Garganta said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas.
The priest suggested to parents that forging a closer relationship with their children could be the best way to have them stay at home often.
“Hopefully, the parents will be the primary friends of their children. Someone who can make them feel accepted whatever their situation or problems may be,” he stressed.