Last Seen:

March 15, 1982

Camarines Norte
On March 15, 1982, a group of farmers and rattan gatherers were abducted by members of the 60th IBPA on suspicion that they were members of the NPA in Brgy. Maisog, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Camarines Norte. According to witnesses, the group was forcibly abducted by the soldiers and was brought to a house of a certain Jose Dayaon. The soldiers detained the farmers in Dayaon's house for two days and two nights.

They were subjected to heavy interrogations and mauling. After two days, March 17, 1982, the soldiers brought the victims to an undisclosed place in San Vicente, Camarines Norte. Along the way, the soldiers passed by at the residence of Brgy. Chairman Matacong, San Lorenzo Ruiz, before proceeding to San Vicente. Several days had passed; the relatives of the victims had located the whereabouts of their loved ones.

The victims were being kept in a safehouse somewhere in Brgy. San Isidro, Talisay, Camarines Norte. To elude the searching families and relatives of the victims, members of the 60th IBPA divided the victims into two groups. Gerimo Sacrez and the two Gubans were brought somewhere else while the Banton brothers and Elino Rada were brought to So. Makausaw, Brgy. Tulay na Lupa, Labo, Camarines Norte. A witness allegedly recalled having seen the Banton brothers and Elino Rada alive in the company of the 60th IBPA members when the latter had their dinner in the witness' residence. Early in the morning, residents living near the area in Tabing Ilog (called Gubat) in So. Makausaw, Brgy. Tulay na Lupa heard several gunshots. Around 6:00AM, soldiers of the 60th IBPA were seen, and along with them, a carabao towing a cart with three dead bodies in it. The soldiers carried the three dead bodies and placed them inside the Brgy. Tulay Na Lupa Church for identification. One of the witnesses, saw the soldiers bring the three dead bodies inside the church, narrated that the three were alleged NPA rebels killed in a gunbattle with them (the soldiers), as told by the 60th IBPA soldiers.

They further stated that the three dead bodies were wearing fatigue uniforms. At around 10:00 in the morning, soldiers of the 60th IBPA directed some residents in the area to bury the three dead bodies near the Barrio cemetery, as no one had claimed the dead bodies. At around 2:00 in the afternoon, the three dead bodies were buried in a rounded burial grave beside a coconut tree near a bamboo and madre de cacao habitation. From thereon, the families and relatives of the victims failed to locate their loved ones.

details about their circumstances.