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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Five bodies retrieved near explosion site off the coast of Samar

Five bodies retrieved near explosion site off the coast of Samar

Published Aug 25, 2022 07:41 pm

TACLOBAN CITY -- Five casualties believed to be from the motorized boat that exploded during an encounter with government troops on August 22 in Catbalogan City were recovered on Thursday, Aug. 25, in areas near where the boat sank.

In Tarangnan, Samar, a headless body of a man was found by fishermen along Sitio Cambarangas, Libucan Gote around 7:00 a.m.

As of press time, two more bodies were recovered by Tarangnan Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Scene of the Crime Operatives, and Tarangnan Municipal Distadter Risk Reduction and Management Office from two areas in said municipality.

Other reported body parts that were floating in other areas near where the boat exploded were retrieved.

On Tuesday, authorities were also able to recover a cadaver of a woman and some debris, including the engine believed to be of the boat.

Troops from the Philippine Coast Guard, SOCO, local police, and Army went to gather specimens and pieces of evidence from the wreckage.

Capt. Ryan Layug, spokesman of the 8th Infantry Division, earlier said they are also investigating if the recovered casualties and damaged boat are linked to the explosion incident in Catbalogan.

"We are thankful as the surfacing of these hopefully will help us on our investigation," said Capt. Layug.

8ID Commander Major General Edgardo De Leon has not confirmed nor denied if the motorboat was where the couple, Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, was on board.

Benito and Wilma Tiamzon are high-ranking New People’s Army officials who are wanted for the Inopacan Massacre and other crimes.

"There were assessments that they could be the Tiamzon leaders. However, we could not categorically say that it was them," he clarified.

Earlier reports surfaced that the Joint Special Operations Task Force Trident and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) encountered more or less 10 armed men traversing toward the south of Buri Island in a battle where the couple was allegedly neutralized.

Army officials said they have a high degree of certainty that there was a very important person (VIP) from NPA on board the boat who was reportedly trying to escape from the cordoned area of the continuing military operation.

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