ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Some 27 unclaimed bodies retrieved by government troops from the main battle area were buried on Tuesday in a mass burial rite in Marawi City.
The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), in a statement Wednesday, said the remains were transported by personnel of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office aboard seven military vehicles from a funeral parlor in Iligan City to the Provincial Maqbarah Cemetery in Marawi City.
The Westmincom said the remains were believed to be civilians declared missing since the fighting erupted on May 23 in Marawi City.
Nasser Alonto Maniri of the Provincial Maqbarah Cemetery said the remains have undergone the process of ‘Dingdinghali,’ a tradition observed by Muslims in burying their dead with pieces of bamboo and in citing a prayer for more than seven to 10 minutes.
Danilo Capin, owner of the funeral homes, said the remains were made to undergo the embalming procedure in accordance with the Muslim rites.
“We have to wait for the advice of the SOCO criminal laboratory and the results of the autopsy and DNA tests. The remains will then be buried upon advice of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and the Department of Interior and Local Government,” Westmincom said, quoting Capin as saying.
He added that the remains were not claimed or remained unidentified.
“We appeal to the public especially those who have relatives and kin who are still missing to approach the Provincial Crisis Management Committee or the Missing Person Center in Iligan City and submit swab samples for the ante-mortem procedure,” Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong, Provincial Crisis Management Committee spokesperson, said.
He said those who may have difficulty reaching the office of the Provincial Crisis Management may contact the International Committee of the Red Cross to report the identity of their missing relatives.
“We pay our highest respect to the souls of those who were laid to rest,” Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Westmincom chief, said.
“We hope that soon, the families will be able to identify and find their love ones and family members,” he added.
Meanwhile, government troops also retrieved skeletal remains at around 7:30 a.m. on Monday in Barangay Lilod Madaya.
The remains were turned over to the Scene of the Crime Operatives for proper disposition.
Tuesday’s mass burial was the second of its kind since the siege in Marawi started on May 23.
The first mass burial was held in July. (PNA)
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Topic: 27 unclaimed bodies buried in Marawi (Read 211 times)