“The evidence will speak for us,” said Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala. Yet the evidence only proved the contrary when their own units gave the wrong body to a victim's family, pointing to the force’s blatant negligence. Dr. Raquel Fortun, the independent forensic pathologist assigned to the case, asked a pertinent question: “Who decided back in Negros who these people are?”
“The clothes were taken, and someone told me they [relatives] were only given numbers and names. Was there anything done to document, to make sense of this body?" Dr. Fortun added, touching upon a troubling point. The oversight did not begin with the return of the body; it started on April 19, when units on-site failed to perform a basic homicide investigation—thereby resulting in the misidentification and relegation of bodies to mere digits and labels.
Imagine how that must feel: seeing a body you don't recognize, not knowing the whereabouts of your loved one's remains. Incompetence and indifference were all that met the families of the 19 who were killed, despite their trust in the officials’ process.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) violated its Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards in handling its post-incident procedures, neglecting the very pledge the organization’s framework claims to uphold. Where is the honor in a mishandled body? Where is the integrity in an inquiry lacking transparency? Where is the accountability in a neglected case of a so-called “lawful armed encounter?” When the very institution that oversees the nation’s military operations can simply choose when to affirm its commitment, it no longer serves the people, but rather the interests that shield it from accountability.
The issue is not about lack of resources or case complexity. Returning the wrong body is both offensive and egregious to the families, the victims, the units in charge, and the force itself. This was not a mere error in judgment; it was a failure of competence. How did multiple organizations on a national scale allow this catastrophic lapse to compromise a systemic process? Either that was the intention, or they simply did not care enough.
The only way to uncover the truth is to be transparent and unbiased with case developments and investigatory findings. That cannot happen if the truth is obstructed by speculations and theories that only hinder progress. They should lead the way in the pursuit of truth and justice, not block it.
All relevant units and agencies assigned to this case must establish clear coordination grounded in fact-finding—one that ensures bodies are never again returned to the wrong families. Beyond words, they must prove that their purpose is to seek the truth and nothing but the whole truth, all while holding themselves to the standards their responsibilities entail.
This case has made it clear that a thorough investigation process is essential due to the controversy and public scrutiny surrounding it. The officials supervising the operation should have considered that before they overlooked the return of a victim's body, because their institutions are the very thing being watched by the public. The families deserve the truth. The victims deserve justice. We deserve answers.
If bodies can be "mistakenly" returned to the wrong families, what stops the wrong truth from being returned to the Filipino people as well?
Written by Ashraf Indanan | The Pensieve, Insight PH
Ashraf Indanan | The Pensieve, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
