Skeletal remains of people believed to be victims of summary executions were unearthed from a property allegedly owned by the Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao province, a GMA News report said Sunday.
Senior Superintendent Albert Terro, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in General Santos City, said the skeletons, which were excavated from a piece of land in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan town, likely belong to five persons whom former governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. allegedly ordered to be killed during his incumbency.
“Ito po ay mga victims ng summary execution na allegedly dito inilibing,” he said in the report aired over GMA News’ “24 Oras” on Sunday.
The report quoted the police as saying that a former aide of Ampatuan Sr. admitted to burying the victims at the site in 2005 and 2008.
Terro, however, said that forensics experts will still have to determine if the bones indeed belong to the victims of summary executions.
Ampatuan Sr. is currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City while being tried by a Quezon City court for multiple murder charges in relation to the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.
He and his two sons, Andal Jr. and Zaldy, allegedly masterminded the killing of 57 people, including several members of the media, on Nov. 23, 2009. — Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK
