MANILA, Philippines —Mel Oragon, the lone suspect in the May 13 Senate shooting yielded positive results in paraffin testing, Southern Police District (SPD) confirmed Monday.
“Base po sa resulta ng SOCO, nagpositive po ito sa nitrates,” Police Lieutenant Margaret Panaga, SPD spokesman told reporters in an interview at Camp Crame.
(Based on the results of SOCO [Scene of the Crime Operatives], [the suspect] got positive with nitrates.)
Paraffin test, also known as the dermal nitrate test, is a forensic procedure used to detect the presence of gunpowder residue on a person's hands. This is usually performed on suspects of gun-related crimes to establish whether they have recently fired a gun.
The test, however, is not foolproof. Results can yield false positives if the person has been in contact with other substances containing nitrates, such as fertilizers, certain medications, or even some cosmetics.
According to respicio.ph, a positive result does not automatically establish guilt but can be used as part of a larger body of evidence against you. A negative result, while not definitive, can be favorable in casting doubt on your involvement in a gun-related crime.
In this case, the positive results do not conclusively establish that Oragon had indeed fired a gun despite being positive with nitrates.
“‘Yun po ang inaalam pa po natin,” Panaga said when asked if it can be concluded that the suspect fired a gun.
(That’s what we are still establishing.)
Confiscated from Oragon were 30 pieces of 5.6 caliber live ammunition and 15 pieces of 9 caliber.
He however did not say why he was in possession of such munitions.
Oragon is currently facing multiple cases including violation of RA 10951 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, Alarms and Scandal, Disturbance to Proceedings and Direct Assault.
