Abducted lumad leader’s remains found in Surigao

CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – The corpse of a Manobo tribal leader in the Caraga region who was allegedly abducted by heavily armed men believed to be members of New People’s Army (NPA) was found buried in a mountainous area in Barangay Purisima, Cagwait town, Surigao del Sur, 1Lt. Karl Jan S. Devaras, company commander of 41st Civil-Military Operations Company of the 4th CMO Battallion, 4th ID disclosed yesterday.

Devaras said the corpse was that of lumad leader Cristituto Garcia, 54, of Sitio Hinayhayan, Cagwait, Surigao del Sur.

The corpse that was already in an advanced stage of decomposition and bore several gunshot wounds, was positively identified by Garcia’s relatives along with the elements of the 36th Infantry (Valor) Battalion (36th IB) and the Philippine National Police.

“Garcia’s remains were positively identified by his family members and was brought to the authorities for the conduct of Medico-Legal Examination,” he said.

Devaras said the discovery of his corpse was a result of the revelation from a former NPA member who surrendered to the 36th IB stationed in Surigao del Sur recently.

In his revelation, the former member of the NPA Guerilla-Front Committee 19-B said Garcia was forcibly taken from his residence on November 15, 2015, and was brought to Sitio Cagburao in the municipality of Cagwait, where he was shot.

The Manobo tribal leader worked as a ‘Bantay Banwa’ or lumad forest guard and was an active anti-illegal logging advocate.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Randolph P. Rojas, commanding officer of the 36th IB based in Surigao del Sur condemns the killing of the tribal leader.

“We vehemently condemn the NPA for the murder of another innocent lumad leader. They already killed hundreds of innocent lumads in Mindanao and most of their victims came from this region (Caraga). We will continue to conduct security operations to protect the lumad communities in this province from this terrorist group,” Rojas said.