THE Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) has clarified that Dr. Raquel Fortun is not their ‘resident forensic expert’ and has not worked for their office.

Three PAO officials, lawyers Silvestre A. Mosing, Ana Lisa M. Soriano and Revelyn V. Ramos-Dacpano, in behalf of PAO chief Dr. Percida V. Rueda-Acosta issued the clarification amid a People’s Tonight story entitled: Danao: PNP won’t condone wrongdoings of men.’

Part of the story said “Alba issued the statement in reaction to renewed claims by Public Attorney’s Office resident forensic expert, Dr. Raquel Fortun that she saw ‘no intent’ on the part of the government to solve drug related killings.’

“We are assuming that it was an honest mistake on the part of Mr. Alfred P. Dalizon because Dr. Raquel Fortun has never worked with and for the Public Attorney’s Office, let alone serve as its resident forensic expert.

The confusion may have stemmed from the fact that she serves/served as ‘independent consultant’ of ACCRA Law Offices (as per communication received by PAO from ACCRA), counsel for Sanofi Pastuer Philippines, one of the defendants in the Dengvaxia cases filed by PAO; and as such, had been very vocal against the PAO’s work on the Dengvaxia cases,” the PAO officials said.

According to the PAO officials, “Atty. Erwin P. Erfe, M.D., has been the Forensic Consultant of PAO since 2004 and now heads the PAO Forensic Laboratory Division. He has been instrumental in revealing the truth in the numerous cases handled by PAO requiring his forensic expertise.”

“Viewed from the all the foregoing, the PAO is respectfully urging the People’s Tonight Editor-in-Chief to rectify the article: Danao: PNP won’t condone wrongdoings of men; published n People’s Tonight on 23 May 2022 and remove mention of the Public Attorney’s Office, or reference to Dr. Raquel Fortun as PAO’s resident forensic expert,” the officials said.

Attorneys Mosing and Soriano are both Deputy Chief Public Attorneys while Dacpano is the Regional Public Attorney.

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