Missing Aeta faith healer found?

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines  – The family of a missing Aeta faith healer said yesterday they believe that the body found in Calaca, Batangas last Friday was that of their relative.

The body, which was reportedly placed in a tire and burned, was found by residents in Barangay Pantay Makina at around 4 p.m., a relative of the victim, Dondie Marasigan, said.

The relatives said the body was taken by a team from the local office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“We believe that the man was Marasigan,” Mary Grace Magtibay, chief of an Aeta tribe, said.

But the new Calaca police chief, Senior Inspector Salvador Solana, denied that a body was found in Barangay Pantay Makina last Friday.

An official of the provincial police investigation division said he called up the NBI-Batangas and was told by a certain Dr. Vertido that no dead body has been brought to the bureau.

Marasigan remains missing after he was allegedly picked up by eight officers of the Calaca police last March 17. The eight officers and their chief were relieved from their posts over Marasigan’s disappearance.

Magtibay said Marasigan’s family is appealing to the government and the Philippine National Police to help them get justice.