Soldiers unearth bodies of 2 NPAs in shallow grave

Government troops unearthed the other day a shallow gravesite where the bodies of two suspected communist rebels allegedly slain by a comrade who was not allowed to leave the rebel group in a far-flung hill in Barangay Baras, Oriental Mindoro.

Reports from the 204th Infantry Brigade said the unearthed remains, which were placed inside a sack, were said to be that of a certain Ka Toto, and a still unidentified New People’s Army rebel.

Meanwhile, 2ndLt. Celeste Frank Sayson of the 204th Infantry Brigade said the troops were informed about the presence of the said gravesite by land owner Cesar Inupas.

Quoting initial physical findings of the Scene of the Crime Operatives, Sayson said the remains were exhumed together inside a decaying sack, which was buried two feet deep.

Sayson said village officials revealed that the skeletal remains were those of two NPA rebels allegedly killed by a certain Armando dela Cruz who is also a member of the Maoist group.

"Allegedly, the murder was due to internal conflict within their ranks sometime in 1994. The conflict arose when Armando dela Cruz decided to terminate his membership with the group and decided to live a peaceful life with his family. However, he was being prevented and threatened by his comrades," he said.

This, according to Sayson, drove Dela Cruz to kill the two victims.

After the incident, Dela Cruz reportedly learned that their former comrades were seeking revenge. He tried to go into hiding, but they eventually caught up with him in Puerto Galera, where he was subsequently killed.

Sayson said that the military would give the two skeletal remains a decent burial. — James Mananghaya