Autopsy finds that activist Randy Echanis endured ‘physical suffering’ before being stabbed.

Family suspects ‘state agents’ responsible for Echanis murder

SLAIN peace consultant Randall “Randy” Echanis was not shot but was made to endure “physical suffering” before he was stabbed to death by his assailants, according to results of an autopsy disclosed on Friday.

The bodies of Echanis, 71, and his neighbour, Louie Tagapia, were found inside his apartment in Novaliches on Aug 10. His family and Anakpawis party-list which he headed suspect that state agents were responsible for the killing.

Forensic pathologist Dr Raquel Fortun on Friday said the initial results of the autopsy she conducted on Echanis’ remains last week showed he sustained multiple physical injuries in parts of his body that indicated he was tortured and that his fatal injury was from a knife used to stab him in the back that also pierced his aorta, the main artery of the heart.

“Torture is not really a forensic pathology term, but the indication is there,” said Fortun.

“If physical suffering is inflicted, it looks like he sustained a lot of injuries first that were not intended to kill him outright and the final fatal injury is the stab wound hitting the aorta,” she added.

The forensic expert added that there was “little indication of struggle” on Echanis’ body, “but he was 71, (so) not much force is needed to immobilise him.”

The late Anakpawis chair also sustained injuries in the head that looked like he was repeatedly hit with a blunt weapon.

Fortun said the non-penetrative hole found on the left portion of his head could have been mistaken for a gunshot wound, which was first reported by a private doctor.

In a medical certificate, Dr Geneve Reyes, a physician chosen by the family, listed gunshot wounds on the left parietal area as the immediate cause of death of Echanis.

But a death certificate issued by Fortun noted that the cause of death was “intrathoracic hematoma”, or injuries to the aorta, heart, and oesophagus caused by the knife used to stab his back.

Fortun said in addition to a blunt weapon used to hit him on the head, the assailants also used a knife or a bladed weapon that caused multiple 2cm wounds on parts of his body and a long, pointed weapon that caused the fatal wound.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) initially refused to turn over Echanis’ remains to his family due to alleged questions on his real identity after an identification card with his picture but with a different name was found in his apartment.

The dispute over his identity was finally settled after the family presented another ID with a matching fingerprint.

The Echanis family recovered his body on Aug 13, and brought it to the Philippine General Hospital for autopsy.

Fortun said there should have been no dispute regarding Echanis’ identity as there was “visual identification” of his remains by his next of kin. She noted that photos showing a lot of characteristics on Echanis’ teeth, such as distinct gaps, could have been used to identify him.