INOPACAN, Leyte – In a
mass grave site called “Garden,” the Communist Terrorists’ purging
activities dubbed as “Operation Anti-VD” in the mid 80’s was unearthed
by the elements of the 43rd Infantry Battalion under the 802nd
Infantry Brigade of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army on
August 30, 2006.
The mass grave which
was located in Sitio Sapang Dako, Brgy. Kaulisihan of this town,
contained more or less 100 people who were massacred on suspicion by
the mainstream Maoist movement that they are deep-penetration agents
and government informers.
Based on the
information obtained from the 8th Infantry Division command based in
Samar, the CPP-NPA-NDF alleged cleansing has been done within its
ranks during the mid-80’s, and subsequently the Sountern Leyte Front
implemented its anti-infiltration campaign in the second half of the
1980’s, which resulted in the maltreatment, torture and summary
execution of more than a hundred innocent CPP-NPA members suspected of
relaying information to the government.
According to Major
Felix Mangyao of the 8th ID Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO), the
discovery of the mass grave was a result of the intensified internal
security operations being conducted by the 802nd Brigade led by Col.
Allan A. Ragpala against the remaining members of the Evelyn Dublin
Terrorist Core Group of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.
“Former top communist
terrorist leaders and members who surrendered earlier, and families of
missing persons and residents of nearby barangays in the area have
extended their time and effort to excavate the skeletal remains of the
purge victims with the assistance of the elements of the 43rd Infantry
Battalion”, Major Mangyao informed.
Major Mangyao likewise
added that the former CT leaders and members had signified their
willingness to stand as witnesses in court to testify that the purging
was ordered by no less than the founding Chair of the CPP/NPA/NDF,
Jose Maria Sison, as well as Luis Jalandoni and Satur Ocampo who were
members of the Central Committee at that time.
Meanwhile, newly
installed 8th ID-PA commanding general MGen. Rodrigo F. Maclang
commended the soldiers of the 43rd IB a component battalion of the
802nd Brigade for the discovery of the said mass grave. “This
accomplishment gained for them the people’s support necessary in
diminishing the menace of insurgency in Eastern Visayas.”, the general
stressed.
Likewise, MGen.
Maclang added that the people of Region 8 strongly condemns the CPP/NPA/NDF’s
purging activities in the strongest terms and are calling on the
Commission on Human Rights and other International Human Rights
Advocates to investigate these terroristic activities to give justice
to the victims and their families.
