Bones, skulls scattered inside Manila North Cemetery given proper burial

Photo courtesy of the Manila PIO

MANILA, Philippines — At least 200 bones and skulls found scattered inside the premises of the Manila North Cemetery were given proper burial on Tuesday.

According to Roselle Castañeda, director of the Manila North Cemetery , the pieces of bones and skulls had been gathered after they were found scattered around the cemetery–along the walkways, on the roof of the structures and in unmarked graves.

In a letter addressed to the Manila Health Department, Castañeda said that on August 3, the cemetery recovered about 56 sets of bones of deceased individuals scattered around sections 40, 215, 216, 217, and 218 of Manila North Cemetery.

She said that since the administration of the cemetery has no way to identify the bones, the recovered remains would be just properly buried. Casteñeda also said that they could not explain  why the bones and skulls were not in marked graves and just scattered around the premises.

Castañeda added that a proper burial is necessary to give respect and dignity to what had remained of those departed.

The recovered bones were put in a mass grave located at the Main Circle of Manila North Cemetery on Tuesday.

The blessing of the mass grave was led by Rev. Fr. Artemio “Tem” Fabros, Parish Priest of the San Jose de Manggagawa de Manuguit. /jpv