MANILA, Philippines – A relative of one of the victims in the Maguindanao massacre broke down in tears after hearing the testimony of a medico-legal officer during the resumption of the trial at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.
Eden Sandoval, sister of Cecille Sandoval-Lechoncito, one of victims in the carnage, was led out of the courtroom upon hearing the testimony of Dr. Dean Cabrera, a medico-legal officer who conducted the autopsy on 12 of the 57 victims.
"My sister has done nothing! Nothing! She's not a politician," and emotional Sandoval told reporters outside the courtroom.
Eden said her sister, who worked in Qatar, was only taking a vacation in Maguindanao when the massacre happened.
She said that at the time they were taken by the gunmen on the morning of Nov. 23, 2009, Cecille was accompanying her husband Eduardo to a hospital in Cotabato City for hypertension.
Cecille was not part of the Mangudadatu convoy that was supposed to be heading to Shariff Aguak to file the certificate of candidacy of now Maguindanao Gov. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu.
In his testimony, Cabrera said Cecille suffered seven gunshot wounds, four of which were fatal. He also noted that there was a contusion on the vaginal wall of the victim when he conducted a genital examination on her body.
The vaginal swab taken from the victim also revealed the presence of semen.
As of posting time, Cabrera is presenting the anatomical sketch and autopsy on the body of Lindo Lipugan, who bore eight injuries, three of which were fatal. - By Dennis Carcamo
