CEBU, Philippines - There was no foul play in the death of Redentor Iscalicas, who was reportedly mauled by policemen in Barangay Poblacion, Madridejos town in Bantayan island.
This is according to Dr. Joe Martin Fuentes, medico-legal-officer of the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-7.
Iscalicas, 28, was allegedly mauled by policemen while at a benefit dance in Barangay Poblacion on January 28. He was detained due to drunkenness and was released the next day.
Fuentes told The FREEMAN that there was no evidence of physical injuries found when he conducted the autopsy.
What he found, the doctor said, was a hole in the gallbladder of Iscalicas probably because of Ascaris or intestinal roundworms.
“May nakita akong bulate probably it was the cause sa pagkabutas ng gallbladder niya at nag-leak na rin ang bile du’n sa gallbladder,” Fuentes explained. (I saw a worm which could have made the hole in his gallbladder which was also leaking bile.)
The gallbladder absorbs mineral salts and water received from the liver and converts it into a thick, mucus substance called “bile” which is released when food is present in the stomach.
While at home, Iscalicas was reportedly feeling intense pain in his stomach. This prompted his mother, Cerila Iscalicas, to rush him to the Bantayan District Hospital.
His physician, Dr. Jatoborn Batanagol, referred him for an urgent surgery to a hospital in Cebu City where he later died.
Cerila claimed that before her son died he mentioned a PO1 Jeffrey Barco as the cop who mauled him.
The family already coordinated with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group last week.
Barco earlier said he is ready to face investigation conducted by the CIDG as well as the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch to clear his name. —(FREEMAN)