DUMAGUETE CITY -- It’s been almost a month since the two decomposing bodies believed to be that of an American citizen and his Filipino girlfriend from Negros Oriental were found in a remote village in Palawan but until now the local police have not yet received confirmation of their identities. Negros Oriental OIC provincial police director Senior Superintendent Mariano Natuel Jr. on Wednesday said his office is still awaiting results of the DNA examination conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory at Camp Crame, Quezon City to verify if, indeed, the bodies are that of Bradley Jay Fugate and Cristina Andig. Fugate, 44, a chemist from California; his fiancée, 19-year-old Cristina Andig, and four other Filipinos went missing at sea last February 13 after they set sail on a small motor banca from Maloh, Siaton in south Negros Oriental. Natuel further said that they are interested in and have requested copies of the DNA cross-matching results considering that the Filipinos are from Negros Oriental while Fugate is a temporary resident of Dumaguete City, the province’s capital. Despite the absence of scientific evidence such as DNA test results to determine a cross-match, people well known to the two have initially identified them through photos taken by law enforcement authorities after they were found in a motorboat last February 28 in the village of Mangsee in Balabac, Palawan. Continue reading...
So is it any wonder why Jemmaah Islamiyah terrorist Malaysian Zulkifli Abdhir, better know as “Marwan”'s finger was sent the the USA FBI for DNA tests, instead of waiting for 30 days plus for Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory at Camp Crame to complete testing. Those 30 days would have been used to blame many other people that were never involved in the 44 SAF massacre.
No surprise really. I suspect that anyone that was really good at forensics has already left the Philippines for greener pastures (and more pay). It really comes as no surprise that they don't have the trained staff or most up-to-date equipment to test these samples. My guess is they are using techniques that are at least 20 years outdated up in Manila. There really isn't much need to rush for this one though. The families have already identified their loved ones and it seems quite obvious what has happened.
Just an update: DAILY STAR: Negros Oriental Seems the family of the expat didn't put up any DNA specimen for comparison. Odd.
