Remains of three allegedly killed by rebels exhumed in Bukidnon

The remains of three individuals allegedly summarily killed by communist rebels have been exhumed in Barangay Digongan, Kitaotao, Bukidnon, military said on Thursday.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Ezra Balagtey, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), the remains belong to Joel Rey Galendez, a retired cop; Dionisio Havana, a tribal datu; and Army Sergeant Reynante España.

Records show that the victims were abducted on August 22, 2017 at a roadblock set up by the rebels in Barangay Kalagangan in San Fernando town.

The exhumation came after members of Komiting Rebolusyonaryo sa Municipalidad (KRM) provided information about the grave site to authorities. The group supposedly dissociated from the communists last August 7.

The remains were then turned over to the victims' families.

"We grieve for the victims' relatives. At least we were able to put closure on their agony," Eastmincom commander Lieutenant General Felimon Santos said. — BM, GMA News