CONTRASTING AUTOPSY REPORTS: PNP says Silawan was not raped contrary to PAO findings

CEBU CITY—The Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory-Central Visayas stood by its findings that there were no indications that Christine Lee Silawan was raped.

Supt. Benjamin Lara, the medico-legal officer of the regional police, revealed in a press briefing this morning, that their findings showed that the DNA and cotton swab results showed no signs of rape.

Lara added that there was no male specimen found in the girl’s genitalia as well as signs of abrasions and hematoma.

Lara, who has been a medico-legal officer since 2003 and has handled at least 200 rape cases, said it is impossible for him not to see abrasions or signs of bleeding in the victim’s private organs.

While there were no signs of injuries in the victim’s genitals, Lara pointed out that he is not discounting the possibility that Silawan was raped.

“There are other forms of rape, it could be through fondling,” he said.

“Or it could be that the perpetrator wore a condom,” Lara said in explaining a possible reason why there was no male specimen found in the victim’s genitals.

It was Dr. Erwin Erfe, director of the forensic laboratory of Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), who said that Silawan was raped based on his own examination of the victim’s body.

Lara explained that the varying results of the examination could be attributed to the times that the separate autopsies were conducted.

Erfe conducted his examination last March 22, a day before the victim was laid to rest.

Lara said the body had been embalmed twice before PAO conducted its own examination.

Lara, however, agreed with Erfe’s findings that a corrosive agent might have been poured on the victim’s face that caused the skin to peel off.

Lara also agreed with Erfe that there could be more than one perpetrators.

He also confirmed that the 30 stab wounds that the girl suffered were the cause of death.

Lara said he will submit his findings to the prosecution team.