Desecrated corpses

Cheers to Reporter’s Notebook for its Nov. 1 special report “Nilapastangang Bangkay (Desecrated Corpses)” that reported on how the dead are sometimes used to hold illegal gambling operations, among others.

While most news and public affairs programs decided to air a special Halloween episode about ghosts and paranormal incidents, Reporter’s Notebook aired in its Nov. 1 episode a report on a corpse that was molested by a necrophiliac, an interview with a confessed necrophiliac, and how there is no Philippine law that makes the desecration of the dead a crime.

Reporter’s Notebook also reported how some people buy corpses from hospitals or rent cadavers from morgues for use in saklaan, a card game often held during wakes. Unlike normal wakes that usually last less than a week, the wakes for the corpses gambling operators rent or buy last for many weeks.  The program also reported that barangay officials and police officers are also involved in the scheme.