Cops recover 9 MNLF bodies in clearing ops

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Clearing police forces recovered nine cadavers of the Misuari-faction Moro national Liberation Front (MNLF) buried in two separate areas as clearing operations continued in the war-torn district of this city, a police official said.

The police forces discovered the cadavers at Sta. Barbara and Sta. Catalina late Wednesday afternoon buried in a shallow grave, Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman of the police regional office here said.

The investigation section of the city police office led by Police Senior Inspector Arlan Delumpines immediately exhumed the first two remains discovered at the ground of Sta. Barbara elementary School in barangay Sta. Barbara about 3:45 p.m.

The recovered cadavers were wearing camouflage uniforms with MNLF insignias. 

Huesca said about 6 p.m. later the same team led by Delumpines exhumed seven more cadavers discovered at Sta. Catalina. 

Two of the cadavers were identified as Usain Abdurahman and Akaram Ahmad through their MNLF identification cards and voter’s card. Both were natives of Parang and Talipao towns of Sulu.

The police team also discovered a .45 caliber pistol from the cadavers which were all decomposing.

The remains were immediately turned over to the local funeral homes that was designated for the proper disposition of the dead bodies. 

Meanwhile, at least four suspected MNLF Misuari-faction members who were believed to have escaped the offensive were arrested last Monday and have been placed under tactical interrogation. 

The recovery of the cadavers have added the number of MNLF fatalities in the gunbattle to 218 killed and 296 captured rebels since the Sept. 9 standoff which ended after 22 days of firefight where 195 civilian hostages were all rescued.

At least 24 soldiers and police were also killed and 186 were wounded in the fighting that left 12 civilians killed and 72 wounded.