MORE HUMAN BONES FOUND

MORE HUMAN BONES FOUND AT THE SITE COVERED BY THE SEARCH WARRANTS; NEW VIDEO CLIPS AND PHOTOS RELEASED

On the strength of a new search warrant (SW) issued on 10 July 1009 by RTC-Manila, this time through Hon. William Simon P. Peralta, the 2nd Vice-Executive Judge and Presiding Judge of Branch 50, the PNP-CIDG Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) created specifically to assist the CHR and the CHR-led multi-agency task force in the ongoing probe into the summary killings attributed to the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), diggings continued last Saturday, July 12, at the Gold Cup/Laud Firing Range in Brgy. Maa, Davao City. CHR Chairperson Leila M. De Lima was personally present at the site and witnessed the diggings.

Three (3) caves were covered by the new SW. In one of them, and the very same cave where a human leg bone (actually a thigh bone) was earlier found, a human skull with bullet hole and a small arm bone were found.

Also, at the site (an ipil-ipil plantation located at a hill at the back of the firing range) covered by the 1st SW issued by RTC-Manila Executive Judge Romulo A. Lopez, more human bones were discovered after a new witness/informant (in a shielded face) pointed to that spot. This witness/informant, who represented himself to be a former DDS member, claims to be have buried the body of his victim at that spot 5-6 years ago. The victim was allegedly also a DDS hitman. After minutes of digging and after around 3-4 feet deep, human bones, including thigh bones and fragments of various parts of body, were discovered. The spot where this new set of bones were found last Saturday, was near or beside the spots were two (2) sets of bones were found on the first 2 days, namely, July 5 and 6, of digging at the site covered by the 1st SW.

Also found at the opening of one of the caves were 3 sets of license plates (believed to be fake) and ammunition/bullets of various sizes and caliber.

Said digging and discovery of more bones and suspicious artifacts were witnessed by Chair De Lima; a lawyer of the owner of the property, a retired policeman, SPO4 Bienvenido Laud; personnel of the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) who were securing the area; and members/crew of local media, including ABS-CBN-Davao, GMA 7-Davao and NBN-Davao.

Video clips and still photos of these new findings are again made available by CHR and may be secured at the Office of the Chairperson by any interested party.