New marker for NPA ‘purge’ victims to rise in Baybay City

BAYBAY CITY, Aug. 29 -- The city government here will put up a new marker for victims of mass killings perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA), whose remains were exhumed in 2006.

The Inopacan mass grave discovery and exhumation marked its 11th year anniversary on Monday.

However, venue for the commemoration was set at the local church grounds following the demolition of the marker at the public cemetery where the skeletal remains of at least 67 individuals were buried after they were uncovered on August 23, 2006.

Baybay City Mayor Carmen Cari said the marker was affected by the road widening project undertaken by the Department Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the area.

“We will build a new marker where all family members can pay their respects,” Cari said.

She vowed the new marker will be put up in an area that will be safe and accessible to the public.

Meanwhile, Carmelita Tenaja, whose husband was one of those executed, remembered how their family members suffered at the hands of the rebels. She was joined by more than a hundred other family members from Baybay City, Inopacan and Mahaplag towns who offered mass and lighted candles for their loved ones.

Tenaja tearfully recalled the plight of families whose sons, fathers and brothers were killed in the 1980s mass purging and said that each year the case drags dims their hope for justice to be served.

After the mass grave discovery, the Philippine Army filed 15 counts of murder before the Manila Regional Trial Court against couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, Satur Ocampo, Vicente Ladlad, Randal Echaniz, Rafael Baylosis, Exusperado Lloren and several others.

The Tiamzons got temporary freedom to be part of the ongoing peace talks between the government and the NDF in Oslo, Norway. The case filed against the top hierarchy of the NPA had its last hearing last year.

The mass purging tagged by the NPA as “Oplan Venereal Disease,” has claimed the lives of about 300 residents in Leyte province, based on estimates of former rebels and the victims’ relatives.

Skeletal remains of 67 individuals were unearthed from shallow graves at Subang Daku village in Inopacan town on August 28, 2006 through the help of villagers.

Brig. Gen. Francisco Mendoza, commander of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, expressed hope that cases filed against NPA leaders will speedily roll in court, saying causes of the delay is more on the judiciary process.

“We are extending all active support we can to the family members. Our hopes are one with them that justice will be served soon,” Francisco said.

He added that they will annually commemorate the Inopacan mass grave discovery and exhumation so the victims will be remembered and that their sufferings in the hands of communist terrorists will serve as lessons "well-learned" in the present times. (ACR/PNA)