BUTUAN CITY – Troops of Army’s 75th Infantry Battalion (75th IB) retrieved on Thursday the remains of a New People’s Army (NPA), which were allegedly abandoned by his comrades after an encounter on May 18, 2020.
The members of the 75th IB, together with the local officials, found the body of certain “Hill”, 19, alleged team leader of Platoon 1, Squad Dos, Guerrilla Front 30 (GF 30) of the CPP-NPA North Eastern Mindanao Regional Command (NEMRC).
The 75th IB report also said the body was already in an advanced state of decomposition when exhumed in a remote area of Sitio Kiskis, barangay Siagao, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
Initial investigation conducted by the police stated that alias “Hill” and his Platoon 1 of GF 30 clashed against military forces on May 18, 2020.
“His remains were reportedly hastily buried by the Communist terrorist group in a shallow grave to be forever forgotten,” said 75th IB Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer Capt. Edwin Leo Francisco in a statement.
He said the recovery of the cadaver was through the revelation of “Migs”, a former rebel, who was also a member of Platoon 1 and was there during the encounter.
The former rebel said that “Hill” was a member of Mamanwa tribe and a resident in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.
The military brought Hill’s body to San Miguel police for proper documentation, identification and decent burial, the 75th IB CMO officer added.