MANILA, Philippines — The five sets of human remains recently found in a shallow grave in Santiago, Agusan del Norte were allegedly executed by the communist New People’s Army, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Saturday.
AFP said the bodies were found in shallow graves last October 30 by the local police. Two of them were members of the AFP’s Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu), while the three others were civilians, the armed forces also said.
“The AFP earlier condemned the execution of two (2) Cafgu members and three (3) civilians whose bodies were found in shallow graves on October 30 in Santiago, Agusan Del Norte,” the AFP said in a statement.
AFP points to a certain Myrna Sularte, also known as Maria Malaya, as one of the suspects. The other suspect, identified as Rolando Leyson Jr., was already killed in an encounter with government troops on September 14 this year.
The AFP also called the incident a violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.
“It is an act of terror that deserves judicial action. It is a crime against humanity that calls for international condemnation,” said the AFP in their statement.
INQUIRER.net has reached Communist Party of the Philippines spokesperson Marco Valbuena for comment but he is yet to respond as of posting.
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