MANILA — Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino urged the University of the Philippines (UP) Biological and Forensic Anthropologists to weigh and assess its initial findings that there are “no human remains whether bone or other human remains” in the alleged mass grave in septic tanks in New Bilibid Prison.
This was after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) dispelled UP Anthropology Professor Nestor Castro’s claim that the dogs used in the operation cannot distinguish explosives and cadavers during the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee Hearing on Thursday.
According to PCG Ensign Jefferson Mangoyob, “Our dogs for search and rescue are cadaver dogs, they’re not dual. The Philippine Coast Guard doesn’t provide dual training for our working dogs.”
When asked by Sen. Tol if the PCG is sure that the dogs will not commit mistakes, Mangoyob replied: “We’re confident with our K9 dogs” and cited several search and rescue operations where the dogs were used.
“All the working dogs used in the search and rescue operations, just like the Cessna [plane], Bohol, and other areas,” Mangoyob said.
With the contradicting sentiments of UP and PCG, Sen. Tol suggested that UP’s initial assessment “should also be weighed and assessed considering the expertise of the Philippine Coast Guard.”#