DOH: Autopsy to help identify Emilyn’s killer
The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday expressed optimism that an autopsy of the remains of 15-year-old stray bullet victim Emilyn Villanueva Calano could help identify the suspect.
Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag said the bullet taken from the head of the victim would lead to the identification of the suspect.
“The bullet will be submitted for ballistics testing and it can help identify the owner of the gun if it is registered. The only problem is if it is a loose firearm,” Tayag told The STAR. Tayag said the bullet was removed from Villanueva’s skull during the autopsy done shortly after her death Wednesday night.
The health official said he visited the wake of Villanueva in Malabon, but her parents did not say when the results of the autopsy would come out.
“The autopsy results will show if the shooting was close range or if it is really a stray bullet that hit Emilyn during the New Year’s revelry,” Tayag said.
Health authorities maintained that Villanueva was a victim of stray bullet.
Last New Year’s Eve, Villanueva was reportedly outside their home watching fireworks when she was hit by a stray bullet.
Malabon police, however, claimed that Villanueva was a hit in the crossfire of a shooting incident in their area.
Tayag said probers from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were also at the wake to gather more information concerning the case.
Villanueva’s mother said yesterday that their family does not hold any grudge against the Malabon police but they are waiting for the results of the NBI probe on the death of their daughter.
“If the police said that a shooting incident accidentally took the life of my daughter, so be it. But there are already other agencies investigating the case so we might as well wait for the results,” Marilyn Villanueva Calano told
during the wake at their house in Malabon.
She also thanked Malabon Mayor Antolin Oreta III for shouldering all the expenses for the burial of her daughter.
Meanwhile, the Malabon police vowed to solve the case as soon as possible.
Police chief Senior Supt. John Chua said a manhunt operation was launched against Renato Sy Jr., the suspect in the shooting incident wherein Villanueva was killed.
Investigators said that Barangay San Agustin tanod (watchman) Patricio Muñoz claimed that he was the real target of Sy, who fired at him several times but missed.
Sy is also wanted for the killing of Caloocan Police Officer 2 Rancel Cruz last Oct. 14.