Remains of rebel leader unearthed in Cagayan town, says Army

The remains of Justine Bautista, a reported rebel leader, are being unearthed at a site in Barangay Bitag Grande, Baggao, Cagayan on Saturday. Photo courtesy of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division

GAMU, Isabela –– Army soldiers and police unearthed the remains of a suspected rebel leader in Baggao town, Cagayan province on Saturday, Jan. 23.

In a belated report, the military on Monday identified the body as that of Justine Bautista alias “Aira,” a medical officer and political guide of the New People’s Army (NPA)-Northern Front Komiteng Rehiyon-Cagayan Valley.

Bautista was a former student of the Cagayan State University, and a member of the College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines.

His remains were found at Sitio Kapanisuwan in Barangay Bitag Grande.

Citing a former rebel, who served as the guide in going to the gravesite, the Army said Bautista was buried after he died in an encounter between the NPA-Northern Front and Army soldiers in a failed attack at a military detachment in San Jose, Baggao on June 25, 2017.

Major Gen Laurence Mina, 5th Infantry Division commander, said Bautista should have been given a decent burial since he was the son of an alleged rebel commander operating in Cagayan.

LZB