In response to the question as to who really was the person stuffed inside a drum cemented inside a steel case which was fished out off Navotas port last month, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday it is 100 percent certain that the body was that of Ruby Rose Barrameda.

Chief Supt. Arturo Cacdac, director of the PNP Crime Laboratory, said they have already submitted the findings of their experts to the Department of Justice (DoJ) on July 28. The findings showed that the cadaver found was indeed that of Ruby Rose who had been missing for two years before her body was retrieved based on the information relayed by one of the assailants.

“I might not be able to give explanation because the case is already on the DoJ, all I can say is that we did our best and the question here is who’s side will eventually be considered by the DoJ panel and eventually it is just the court kung sino ang paniniwalaan ng judge, kung yung resulta na inilabas ng ating mga odontologists at ng ating medico legal officer or forensic experts who were I think tapped by some party to give that comment,” said Cacdac.

“We are supporting the findings of our forensic experts and we welcome the comments made by other experts because demokrasya ito. Everybody is free to express their opinion on certain issues,” he added.

Cacdac was reacting to the experts tapped by the in-laws of Ruby Rose who stated that the dental records of the person inside the steel cabinet did not match those of the victim and that there had been no indications so far, based on the pieces of evidence taken, that the cadaver belonged to her.

The findings of the PNP Crime Laboratory, as well as the testimony of Manuel Montero who claimed to be among those who committed crime, were used in the filing of case against Ruby Rose’ estranged husband Manuel Jimenez III; father-in-law Manuel II; and Manuel’s uncle, Lope.

Montero earlier surrendered to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and was the one who led the cops in the recovery of the supposed cadaver of Ruby Rose.

He claimed that he was ordered by the Jimenezes to commit the crime since Ruby Rose became an embarrassment to their family.

But amid the new twist in the controversial case, which has been described as a Mafia-like killing, Cacdac said he stands by the findings of their experts and even challenged the forensic experts tapped by the accused to a virtual bet game.

“Ang tanong lang diyan kase yun po bang ibang forensic experts na nagsasabi na mali yung findings ng aming experts, sila po ba ay handang isuko ang kanilang mga lisensya kung mapatunayan na tama ang findings ng aming mga experts kase yung expert namin handa syang magbitiw o i-surrender ang kanyang lisensya kung mapatunayan na mali sya,” said Cacdac, referring to Senior Insp. Dindo Herrera.

The official also emphasized that they did not favor the family of Ruby Rose in coming up with the findings, saying that they just did the job mandated to his agency since the cadaver  all the pieces of evidence retrieved were turned over to them.

“Ito pong mga findings na ito ay ipapaliwanag na lang ng mga experts namin kapag pinatawag po sila sa DoJ o kaya sa korte,” said Cacdac.