6 skeletal remains of alleged victims of crime gang exhumed in Albay town

Albay Map

LEGAZPI CITY — Authorities on Wednesday, June 29, exhumed the bodies of six people believed to have been killed by the Concepcion criminal group in a remote village in Libon town in Albay, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Thursday.

Paterno Morales, director of NBI in Bicol, said they recovered the first two skeletal remains of two brothers in Barangay (village) Molosbolos at around 7 a.m.

Two hours later, another skeletal remains of a woman were also found 500 meters away from the first grave.

The three victims, whose names were withheld, were businessmen reported missing in June 2021 and were last seen in the said town.

Morales said the witnesses also gave information about the three other bodies buried in two separate graves in the hilly portion of the private land.

He said the last two bodies were still decomposing.

“The other victims were executed because they have been suspected as police informants,” Morales said.

The combined forces of the NBI, Philippine Army, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Philippine National Police finished the exhumation at around 5 p.m., he added.

The families of the victims already coordinated with the NBI for possible identification of the bodies through used clothings but Morales said the forensic team from Manila would still verify the victims’ identities.

The Concepcion crime group, organized by Gilbert Concepcion, is involved in robberies, extortions, gunrunning, and gun for hire activities.

Morales said they were preparing the case to be filed against Concepcion and other persons of interest.

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