NPA cadaver exhumed in SurSur town

From the Philippine Information Agency (Aug 6, 2020): NPA cadaver exhumed in SurSur town (By 75th Infantry Battalion)

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 6 -- Government troopers retrieved the cadaver of a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Thursday last week who was allegedly killed in an encounter on May 18, 2020.

The members of the Army’s 75th Infantry Battalion (75IB) together with the local officials found the body of a certain Dondon Montenegro Suazo alias Hill, 19, a team leader of Platoon 1, Squad Dos, Guerrilla Front (GF) 30, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Command (NEMRC).

The 75IB report also said the body was already on its advance state of decomposition that was exhumed in a remote area of Sitio Kiskis, barangay Siagao, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.

Investigation revealed that Suazo was with Joel Maca Mahinay, alias Niko/Ontong/Barok, commanding officer of Platoon 2, GF 30, NEMRC when they clashed against military forces on May 18, 2020.

The dead body was hastily buried by the communist terrorist group at a shallow grave to be forever forgotten, said 75IB civil-military officer Captain Edwin Leo Francisco in a statement.

Capt. Francisco also said the recovery of the cadaver was through the revelation of alias “Migs,” a former rebel, who was also a member of the platoon of Joel Maca Mahinay and was there during the encounter.

The former rebel said that Suazo is a Mamanwa and a resident of Sitio Libas, Brgy Sibahay, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.

Alias Migs also disclosed that Dondon was with Mahinay and his platoon when the communist NPA rebels reportedly committed their murder of Datu Bernandino “Bandi” Astudillo,72, and Zaldy Ybanez, 52, at Sitio Inadan, barangay Magroyong on 19 March 2020. Both victims suffered 16 stab wounds.

The military brought Zuaso’s body to San Miguel police for proper documentation and then brought to a funeral parlor in Tandag City where Suazo was received with his grieving mother, Bernardita Suazo.

“Mag isa naman to ka tuig na nananghid ang akong anak nga manarbaho para makatabang sa amo ug labaw na sa iyang igsuon nga naay sakit nga cancer pero karon akong nabalitaan nga nadani ug giilad sa mga Terroristang NPA unya namatay ug gibyaan lang sa bukid,” Suazo’s mother said.

Meanwhile, Lt. Colonel Jeffrey A. Villarosa, 75IB commanding officer, extended his deepest sympathy to Bernardita and her family.

“Another innocent life was lost because he fell victim to the deception of the CNTs. What is more difficult to comprehend is the communist terrorist group wanting to keep the sad truth of Dondon’s death from his family,” said Villarosa, adding that if alias Migs did not reveal Zuaso’s remains, he will not be discovered and exhumed. (Captain Edwin Leo Francsico, 75IB-CMO/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1049332