A dead man tells no tales, so a lady lawmaker from the southern Philippines is promoting mandatory autopsies for those who died from violent, peculiar and doubtful causes of death.

Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio filed House Bill No. 265 which states that victims who died under suspicious circumstances are deprived of justice since they are no longer around to recount the manner of their death.

Antonino-Custodio said, "Victims usually leave tell-tale signs that may not only unlock their mysterious death but would also accomplished what the deceased can no longer do - point the lead at the perpetrator of the heinous deed."

According to Antonino-Custodio, she finds it rather strange that families or relatives of those who died from criminal violence, accidents and other mysterious circumstances to conveniently and easily deny or interfere with the State's prerogative to have the body examined by a mere refusing to submit the cadaver for autopsy.

She used a battered child suffered internal injuries and died because he was maltreated by his abusive parent as an example.

"No government investigators can fully ascertain the proximate and contributory causes of death of victims if their bodies are not autopsied or when such examinations are not conducted as timely as possible because of the refusal of their family or relatives," she said.

Antonino-Custodio said the proposed measure aims to ensure that the State's interest will be upheld with regards to the investigation of violent, mysterious or unusual death of the person and the prosecution of the culpable person or persons.