Police unearth 3rd ‘chainsaw killings’ victim in Ampatuan (Business Mirror)

DAVAO City—Authorities have discovered on Friday the third human skeletal remains believed to be among the 52 reported victims of “chainsaw killings,” enforced disappearances, sexual assaults and other forms of gruesome killings allegedly perpetrated by the Ampatuan clan and their “security forces” in Barangay Lipongo, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Maguindanao, Col. Leopoldo Galon, spokesman of the Eastern Mindano Command (Eastmincom), said.

The remains could not be immediately ascertained as to how they were killed, and were turned over to the Police’s Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) for safekeeping.

The Eastmincom said the Soco was “still searching, documenting and retrieving skeletral remains.” The search operation was covered by search warrants 07-2011 and 08-2011, it said.

The search began on Friday morning, at 10 a.m., and was jointly conducted by elements from the Department of Justice, the Philippine National Police and the Army in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The discovery was the second in the same area. The first was in February when Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered the investigation and search for the remains of the victims based on the report of the Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international rights watchdog, pertaining to the reported victims of gory killings allegedly perpetrated by the Ampatuan clan. The skeletal remains of another victim was previously dug at Sitio Tabadiya, Barangay Timbangan, also in Ampatuan town. Authorities, however, are yet to provide the identify of the victims.

Meanwhile, government troops were tied to several guerrilla skirmishes in at least four provinces during the last two days last week, immediately after the November 24 grenade explosion in Midsayap, North Cotabato.

On Saturday, at 5 a.m., troops were placed on high alert after armed men clashed with elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Sitio Pedtad, Baranay Dungos, Tulunan, North Cotabato. The armed men were reportedly led by a certain Sukarno, while the MILF forces were led by a Jun Panangulonof of the 108th Base Command.

A day earlier, on Friday, at 10:40 a.m., troops of the 7th Special Forces Company engaged about 20 suspected New People’s Army guerrillas in Barangay Doña Telesfora, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.

The Eastmincom said the gunbattle lasted 25 minutes but there were no casualties reported from either side. Soldiers of the 8th SF Company mounted a blocking position on possible enemy withdrawal routes.

Two hours after, in Davao del Sur, troops of the 27th Infantry Battalion engaged with another group of 15 suspected communist rebels. The gun battle started at 12:45 p.m. and the guerrillas were allegedly led by a certain Daniel Capion. The skirmish happened at the latter’s encampment in Sitio Bongbang, Barangay Kimlawis town in Kiblawan.

There were also no casualties reported.

(Zaff Solmerin and Manuel Cayon)

source: Business Mirror