BY BONITA ERMAC
ILIGAN CITY – Government troops exhumed on Sunday the remains of a teenage girl who was buried by her comrades in the New People’s Army (NPA) in Maguing town, Lanao del Sur.
A former rebel told the Army’s 5th Infantry Battalion that the young rebel, identified as Hope Capangpangan, also known as alias “Girly” and “Jervy”, was tortured, killed and buried by their group.
Capangpangan was recruited sometime in 2017 when she was 16 years old, the military learned.
She wanted to surrender to finish her studies but the NPA accused her of being a traitor or a government spy.
Lt. Col. Romulus Rabara, 5th Infantry Battalion commander, said his troops together with the former rebel traveled to the mountainous part of the town of Maguing for almost 12 hours before reaching the place where the girl was buried.
Brig. Gen. Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II, 103rd Infantry Brigade commander, directed the troops to turn over the remains of the girl to authorities for DNA testing. (Bonita Ermac)