About 120 unclaimed bodies of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from a funeral parlor in Muntinlupa are set to be transferred to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for autopsy, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla said Wednesday, Nov. 9.

In a chance interview with reporters, Remulla said he would sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the management of PGH to formally transfer the cadavers.

“Alamin natin kung anong cause of death based on the carpeta [prison records] and based on the death certificate and the actual autopsy to be conducted by Dr. [Rachel] Fortun,” he said.

A total of 176 bodies of inmates were earlier found by the authorities at the Eastern Funeral Homes in Muntinlupa during the investigation on the slay case of radio broadcaster Percival "Percy Lapid" Mabasa.

Remulla said 120 bodies would undergo an autopsy, for now, noting that this is the maximum number that PGH could accommodate.

He also said that they would locate the families first to ask for their permission for the planned autopsy.

"Remember, the cadavers of people had families. Subukan natin na bigyan sila ng decent burrial," Remulla added.

The justice chief said the autopsy results would be sent to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“They'll have the first crack because this involves a scientific process. We want to have a hand in it. But we will also refer to the police because remember, all of these people went to jail, died in jail. So we have to give due courtesy to both agencies,” he added.