Bones of ‘salvage victims’ discovered in Sarangani on Christmas Day

MANILA, Philippines — Bones of alleged salvage victims (Filipino jargon for summary execution of accused criminals) were found buried in a lot in Sarangani province on Wednesday, Dec. 25, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.

The PNP-Crime Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said it received information about a suspected burial site at Purok 5, Barangay Baluntay in Alabel town, and promptly launched an operation.

It said law enforcers conducted the verification of the report on Wednesday evening, and eventually, “several skeletal remains were recovered during the operation.”

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PNP-CIDG’s Sarangani provincial officer Major Jun Fortunato later told INQUIRER.net via Viber that the human bones belonged to two individuals.

“Law enforcement personnel secured the area and began [the] exhumation with the assistance of forensic experts,” the PNP-CIDG said in a statement Friday.

“The crime scene remains under investigation, and additional updates will be provided as the case progresses,” it added.

PNP-CIDG Director Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III said a witness named “Dodong” “tentatively identified” one of the remains as a certain “Jomar.”

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Torre added that “Jomar” was a resident of Bentung, Polomok, South Cotabato, who was reported missing for two to three months and was last seen riding a white Rouser motorcycle.

However, Torre clarified that “[t]he identification is subject to confirmation through further forensic analysis.”

Torre also said the investigation will continue to “uncover the truth and uphold the rule of law.”