DAVAO CITY- 89th Infantry (Makatao) Battalion under the leadership of LTC SILAS D TRASMONTERO INF (GSC) PA, after having planned an inter-agency activity, conducted ‘Operation Hukay’ as they exhumed four (4) identified remains murdered by CTGs in their killing fields at So Tabon, Brgy Digongan, Kitaotao, and Brgy Matupe, San Fernando both of Bukidnon yesterday, 22 August 2019.
Present during the significant event were MGEN JOSE C FAUSTINO JR, AFP, Commander, 10ID, PA, COL NOLASCO A MEMPIN, Commander, 1003rd Bde, officers and staff of Eastmincom, PNP, SOCO, brgy officials, tribal chieftains, the local populace of Brgy Digongan and Matupe, LGU of Kitaotao, reporters from different Media institution, other local and international media and surrendered members of Komiteng Rebolusyonaryo sa Munisipalidad (KRM).
Through the five-month long massive and intensified Community Support Program (CSP) in the area of Bukidnon, the unit were able to find out socio-cultural, political and economic issues of the IP in its area of operation, check the level of influence of CPP/NPA/NDF Terrorist Group (CTG) and convince regular and MB members to surrender while their underground mass organization to withdraw membership, which is also one of the significant objectives of the CSP teams.
The continuous engagements, negotiations and dialogue with the local government officials, tribal leaders and members of the community led to the discovery of the shadow government organized by the CTGs as well as the eventual withdrawal of membership and surrender of firearms, IEDs and subversive documents of KRM members.
Constant dialogue, a component of the CSP, unveiled heinous atrocities the CTG has perpetrated. One of these is reliable information of the mass grave gained by the unit from the former rebels that four (4) personalities were remorselessly killed and buried by the terrorists in Brgy Digongan, while the other one was buried in Brgy Matupe. Such information was later verified correct by the PNP who have received report way back August 2017.
The spot report stated that on August 22, 2017, the police station received an information from a concern public official that there were accordingly more or less 30 fully armed NPA rebels under GF 55 led by alias Tatang who conducted road blockade and abducted four (4) persons at Sitio Nabunturan, Brgy Kalagangan, San Fernando, Bukidnon. They were able to flag down a certain innova vehicle, color silver gray, bearing plate number VFL-278, with four (4) persons onboard including the driver, and immediately abducted and went to So Bangonan, Brgy Digongan, Kitaotao, Bukidnon.
The abducted personalities were later identified as Joel Rey Mique Galendez, 43, retired policeman from Bunawan, Agusan Del Sur and his son Chez Galendez,15 Dionisio Camarillo Havana alias “Dondon” 37, (a Tribal Datu of Agusan Del Sur) from Sto. Nino, Carmen, DDN, and Sgt Reynante Havana España, 42, from San Frans, Agusan Del Sur who were abducted by the NPA on the night of August 22, 2017 in So Nabunturan, Brgy Kalagangan, San Fernando, Bukidnon. Meanwhile a certain Remond Cotamora Manoos alias Ivan, 23 from Purok Pediakan, Panganason, Pantukan, CVP who is a member of GF55 operating in the area and was a former rebel from SRC1, SMRC was murdered mercilessly by the NPA after he was suspected as informant and buried him in Matupe.