PGR's DNA testing capability deficient

Marcos Muedano

El Universal. 7-8-2012.  The lack of coordination between the state prosecutorial agencies and the Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR; Office of Attorney General), added to the lack of specialized equipment for DNA testing, has resulted in the fact that, out of 410 bodies that have been exhumed from clandestine graves, there have only been 24 bodies identified through their relatives.

According to a PGR report, SIEDO, the PGR unit specialized in organized crime investigations, has taken part in investigations in 10 states where the bodies were found and have been successful in only one state.

The document, of which El Universal has a copy, mentions that of the 410 bodies that "were exhumed from graves found from December 1 to March 31, 2012, in Campeche, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Guerrero, Jalisco, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Veracruz, only in Guerrero was it possible for PGR personnel to use DNA tests for identification."

The report details that in some cases, because only body parts were found or because the state of decomposition of the body was too advanced, it wasn't possible to determine whether it was male or female, or the age.

The agency points out that in some cases, like Chihuahua, it could not take part (in the identification process) because the state is in charge of the investigations. Meanwhile, it's not known how far the investigations have advanced in Sinaloa because the local authorities are drafting a report.

According to the PGR document, there have been five burials found in Campeche, where the investigation was turned over to the PGR. In Chihuahua, there were 10 found, and the local authorities are in charge of  the investigations.

In Coahuila, there were 9 reported. The local authorities made the find, but despite that, states the report, the investigations were turned over to the PGR due to "incompetence."

In Durango, local authorities reported 10 burial pits. The investigations were carried out by the local prosecutorial authority and the PGR simply "collaborated." In Guerrero, there was one grave reported. When it was discovered, the local authorities carried out the investigation and turned it over to the PGR.

It's known that there is one grave in Jalisco, which local authorities are investigating, which is why the PGR is "waiting for the local jurisdiction to submit (a report of) its official investigations to date."