Skeletal remains found at DOJ excavation site

MANILA, Philippines — Skeletal remains were recovered yesterday at an excavation site at the Department of Justice (DOJ) compound along Padre Faura in Manila.

The excavation is for the construction of a new DOJ library building.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he would ask the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a probe.

“We will have the remains examined,” Remulla told reporters in a Viber message.

The NBI is an attached agency of the DOJ.

NBI personnel inspected what appeared to be a skull and skeleton recovered in the area at around 3 p.m. yesterday.

Authorities retrieved a whole skull and fragments, according to Justice Undersecretary Brigido Dulay.

Dulay refused to provide more details, leaving it to the NBI forensic division to conduct further probe.

In 2005, the DOJ reportedly recovered at least five skulls and human bones at the construction site where the Forum Building is located.