Sun.Star: Soldiers find another mass grave in Compostela Valley

Army troopers claimed to find another mass grave containing the remains of summary execution victims of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the hinterlands of Compostela Valley province. Sun Star Zambonga reported on Sunday that the Alpha Company of the Army’s 25th Infantry Battalion uncovered the mass grave last week. The grave is located in Sitio Tagaytay, Mainit village in Nabunturan town. Rey Catanasan identified the remains of two of his brothers in the mass grave. Maj. Rolando Rodil, chief of the Army’s 25th Infantry Battalion said the skeletal remains were identified as that of Roger and Nathaniel Catanasan. Rodil said a third was identified as Rolando Cabisa, an uncle of the Catanasan brothers, all residents of Barangay Mainit of Nabunturan town. He said the NPA’s kangaroo court tried and found the three guilty in October 2001 and sentenced them to death. Rodil said that victims’ families firmly believed the victims have been tortured as one of the skulls had a hole probably caused by a bullet. Also, he said the NPA has resorted to similar cruelty as it purged its members by mere suspicion of being infiltrators. “Survivors of this dark episode shared their gruesome experiences; tortures were rampant and deaths were imminent," Rodil said. He called on the relatives of the victims to file appropriate charges against the perpetrators. “It’s not too late," he added. - GMANews.TV