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MASSACRE SITE, Ampatuan, Maguindanao (MindaNews/01 November) – Three spent shells of M-14 Armalite rifle and a rotting ID card pouch were found on Monday at the place where 58 persons were killed and buried in a mass grave almost two years ago, in what has been considered the worst political violence in the country in recent memory.
The items were dug up by workers who were putting additional touches to the monument for the victims, 32 of whom were media workers, including one whose remains have remained missing.
Charlie Senase, vice president of the Cotabato City chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, said the newly-found items should be considered by the investigators handling the case.
The massacre occurred on November 23, 2009 allegedly on orders of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his sons, suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan and former Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr.
Meanwhile, aside from the physical changes like the placement of solar-powered lights, the trees that were planted in memory of the victims have grown.
Construction workers however claimed they would see and hear eerie things around the massacre site by twilight. They said these could be the ghosts of the victims.
Khomenie Tipas, the workers’ team leader said that sometimes they would hear cries or see a white dog that would suddenly vanish from view. (Ferdinandh Cabrera/MindaNews)