Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta on Tuesday condemned what he described as “barbaric” murder of retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice Normandie Pizarro who has been reported missing since October 23.

 A body was found by the National Bureau of Investigation, but it was on Monday the NBI  confirmed that the body was Pizzaro’s.

 “The killing and murder of any person is never tolerated by our laws. In fact, our courts will always condemn it,” Peralta said, in a statement.

 “I ask our law enforcement agencies to press on with their investigation so that the perpetrators of this barbaric act can be caught and brought to justice,” he added.

 “I also extend my sincerest condolences and sympathies to the family of retired Court of Appeals Justice Normandie Pizarro,” Peralta said.

The NBI said it had to run DNA tests and other analyses on the body since the fingers and hand were cut.

“Our DNA test results showed that the cadaver recovered in Tarlac are the remains of retired CA Justice Normandie Pizarro. Dental evidence gathered by our forensic team matched with the dental records of the former member of the CA,” NBI Director Eric Distor said.

“The NBI forensic chemistry division report showed a 99.99 percent DNA match,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a message to reporters.

“The NBI is focusing on four prsons of interest. One of them is willing to divulge what he knows,” Guevarra added.

Pizarro handled and dismissed cases filed against pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles and former Palawan governor Joel Reyes. DMS