GOVERNMENT troops with local officials found the burial site of a member of the New People's Army (NPA) on Thursday last week who was allegedly killed in an encounter on May 18, 2020, a military official said Monday.

Members of the Army’s 75th and 36th Infantry Battalions found the body of a certain Dondon Montenegro Suazo alias Hill, 19, a team leader of Platoon 1, Squad Dos, Guerrilla Front 30, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Command (NEMRC).

Army’s 4th Infantry Division public affairs chief Major Rodulfo Cordero said the body was already on its advance state of decomposition that was exhumed in a remote area of Sitio Kiskis, barangay Siagao, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.

“The dead body was exhumed after government troops received a tip from a former rebel,” said Cordero.

Cordero said alias Hill (Zuaso) was with Joel Maca Mahinay, alias Niko/Ontong/Barok, commanding officer of Platoon 2, GF 30, NEMRC when they clashed against military forces on May 18, 2020.

The dead body was hastily buried by the communist terrorist group at a shallow grave to be forever forgotten, according to Cordero.

Army's 75IB civil-military officer Captain Edwin Leo Francisco in a statement said the recovery of the cadaver was through the revelation of alias “Migs,” a former rebel, who was also a member of the platoon of Joel Maca Mahinay and was there during the encounter.

The former rebel said that Dondon is a Mamanwa and a resident of Sitio Libas, Brgy Sibahay, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, according to Francisco.

Alias Migs also disclosed that Dondon was with Mahinay and his platoon when the communist NPA rebels reportedly committed their murder of Datu Bernandino “Bandi” Astudillo,72, and Zaldy Ybanez, 52, at Sitio Inadan, barangay Magroyong on 19 March 2020. Both victims suffered 16 stab wounds.

The military brought Zuaso's body San Miguel police for proper documentation and then brought to a funeral parlor in Tandag City where Zuaso was received with his grieving mother, Bernardita Montenegro Suazo.

 “Mag isa naman to ka tuig na nananghid ang akong anak nga manarbaho para makatabang sa amo ug labaw na sa iyang igsuon nga naay sakit nga cancer pero karon akong nabalitaan nga nadani ug giilad sa mga Terroristang NPA unya namatay ug gibyaan lang sa bukid,” Suaso’s mother said.

75IB commanding officer Lt. Colonel Jeffrey A. Villarosa said his deepest sympathy to Bernardita and her family.

“Another innocent life is lost because he fell victim to the deception of the CNTs. What is more difficult to comprehend is the communist terrorist group wanting to keep the sad truth of Dondon’s death from his family,” said Villarosa, adding that if alias Migs did not reveal Zuaso’s remains, he will not be discovered and exhumed.

“I encourage the remaining NPA members to surrender while you still have a chance. I also call on their families to rescue your loved ones from the NPAs. The NPAs will only let go of your loved ones only once they are dead,” said Villarosa. (Ben Balce)