Farmer stumbles across mass grave in Philippines

July 25, 2012
Reset Text smaller larger

MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino farmer unearthed a mass grave with the skeletal remains of up to 30 people believed to be victims of an internal purge by communist rebels in the 1980s, AFP reported Sunday (July 22nd).

Rommel Malinao was plowing his field in a remote village in Quezon province, south of Manila, when he made the discovery on Saturday, army spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc said.

The army deployed a team to cordon off the site and with the help of police forensics experts exhumed the skeletons. "As of last count, there were about 30 human skeletons," Cabunoc told AFP.

"We believe these were victims of the New People's Army (NPA) 'kangaroo courts', which sentenced to death many members they had suspected as government intelligence agents."

The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a Maoist rebellion since 1969. Various mass graves have been unearthed by the military since 2009, but Saturday's find was believed to contain the biggest number of skeletons so far, Cabunoc said.

What do you think of this article? (Total Votes: 0)

0 Dislike(s)

Add A Comment (Comments Policy)* denotes required field

Poll

Do you support campaigns by vigilante groups such as FPI to crack down on bars and restaurants that they believe are violating Islamic norms?

Photo Essay

Members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) attend a 2010 rally in front of Indonesia's constitutional court as it debates a law on blasphemy. The FPI, a hardline group known for its vigilante-style attacks on businesses and individuals, has been accused of undermining democracy and rule of law in Indonesia. [Adek Berry/AFP]

Indonesia's Islamist vigilantes: a threat to rule of law?