Tacloban City (October 4) -- Three more remains of alleged victims of CPP-NPA-NDF purging were uncovered three days ago at Sitio Mahangin, Barangay Caulisihan, Inopacan, Leyte.

This was revealed by Col. Allan Ragpala, commander of the 802nd Infantry Division of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Burauen, Leyte , in an interview with PIA.

Col. Ragpala said that this is part of the continuous search for the remains of the purging victims by the relatives and by the elements of the 43rd Infantry Battalion under the command of Lt. Colonel Mario Lacurom. The 43rd IB established a command post at Barangay Caulisihan after the discovery of the mass gravesite in Sitio Sapang Dacu, Barangay Caulisihan.

The three newly unearthed remains were found in a Sitio near Sapang Dacu which confirms the report of the witnesses and former NPA supporters who alleged that some of the victims who could not bear the torture die on the way to the “Garden.” Those who died along the way could have been buried right there where they expired, Col. Ragpala opined.

On September 12, four skulls were unearthed from a mass grave in Sitio Bugang, Caulisihan (the same barangay where Sapang Daku mass grave was located), Inopacan town while two skulls were uncovered three days later, in a mass grave in the far-flung barangay Monterico of Baybay town.

Col. Allan Ragpala, said the military will not stop in its efforts to locate more graves of the victims of rebel atrocities. "This is the only way, we can give justice to the victims and peace of mind to their relatives," Col. Ragpala said.

Meanwhile, Col. Lacurom said his troops will remain indefinitely in Barangay Caulisihan and at the advance command post at Barangay Gumbang on orders from Major General Rodrigo Maclang, the commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division, to search for more gravesites in the area.