QCPD to return Echanis remains to kin after verifying identity

IDENTITY CONFIRMED. The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) says one of the victims found dead in an apartment in Novaliches who was initially identified as Manuel Santiago is actually NDF consultant Randall Echanis based on fingerprint examination results released on Wednesday (Aug. 12, 2020). The QCPD said it will return Echanis’ remains to his family after verification of his identity. (Photo courtesy of QCPD via PNA)

MANILA – The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Wednesday said it would return the remains of National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant Randall Echanis to his family after it was confirmed that he is one of the two persons found dead in an apartment in Novaliches on Monday.

QCPD chief Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo said they are now coordinating with Echanis’ wife Erlinda, for the turnover of his body.

Among the angles being looked into is that Echanis’ companion, Louie Tagapia, is the real target of the suspects as the investigation revealed that Tagapia has more stab wounds than Echanis.

Montejo said it is also possible that the incident was perpetrated by robbers.

“Hindi kami titigil sa pagtugis sa mga salarin. Umaasa tayo na makikilala agad ang suspects at mahuli sa lalong madaling panahon. Kami ay nananawagan sa publiko at sa kung sinuman na nakasaksi o may mahalagang impormasyon sa insidente na makipagtulungan at i-report agad sa amin para makatulong at agarang pagresolba sa kasong ito (We will not stop in finding the culprits. We are hoping to identify the suspects and catch them as soon as possible. We appeal to the public for any witnesses or information to cooperate with the police so that we could solve the case immediately),” Montejo said in a briefing.

The QCPD confirmed that Echanis is indeed the same person identified as a certain Manuel Santiago based on the result of a fingerprint examination on the corpse whom they initially identified as Santiago.

“It means Randall Echanis and Manuel Santiago are one and the same person,” he said.

He said a specimen of the right thumb mark provided by Echanis’ family is similar to the post-mortem fingerprint done on his corpse.

Montejo said lawyers Luz Perez and Carlos Montemayor Jr .appeared at the Criminal Investigation Unit (CIDU) of QCPD on Tuesday and claimed that the real name of Santiago is actually Randal Anacleto B. Echanis.

They also submitted his ID with a thumbprint issued by Barangay Aguho in Pateros.

Also on Wednesday, the CIDU received a copy of the result of the examination findings saying that the fingerprint in the ID bearing Echanis’ name is “identical with right thumb appearing on the post-mortem fingerprint chart of one Manuel Santiago”.

The results were issued by the QCPD Crime Laboratory Office.