Ex-NPA rebel leads authorities to missing lumad’s grave in Surigao

From the Manila Bulletin (Mar 14): Ex-NPA rebel leads authorities to missing lumad’s grave in Surigao

Butuan City — A former fighter of the New People’s Army (NPA) led authorities to the unmarked grave of a Manobo tribe member Sunday, two years since the lumad was abducted and killed by communist rebels in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur.

This was disclosed yesterday by First Lt. Jan S. Devaras, 41st Civil Military Operations (Magkahiusa) Company commander, as he said that the ex-NPA rebel led authorities to the site where the lumad was buried at the vicinity of Kilometer 9, Mam-on, Barangay Tubo-tubo in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur.

“The skeletal remains of the lumad were retrieved thru the revelation of a former NPA who has just surrendered to military and police authorities in Surigao del Sur,” Devaras said.

(photo courtesy of google map)

 

He added that the victim was abducted by NPA rebels last April 12, 2014 from a highland Manobo community in Anas, Barangay Cabangahan in Cantilan town.

 

The Magkahiusa commander, however, refused to reveal the identity of the ex-rebel nor that of the murdered lumad for security reasons.

Devaras also said the NPAs executed the tribesman after he refused to join the revolutionary movement.

He said the remains of the lumad were brought under the custody of government authorities in Surigao del Sur for further forensic examination and identification.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Randolph Rojas, commander of the 36th IB based in Tago, Surigao del Sur condemned the NPAs for killing another lumad.

“We condemn the NPAs for killing another lumad who did not want to join or cooperate with them. They must also stop occupying some Indigenous People communities in Surigao del Sur as their guerrilla bases,” he said

http://www.mb.com.ph/ex-npa-rebel-leads-authorities-to-missing-lumads-grave-in-surigao/