Police are now investigating how seven individuals from a town in Zamboanga del Sur ended up massacred and buried in a shallow grave some 30 kilometers from the town proper of Sapad in Lanao del Norte province. Authorities dug their bodies in a remote area at Sitio Lapao, Barangay Karkum at around 9:00am on Sunday, January 7 after a concerned citizen called police about a fresh mound in the area suspected to be a mass grave.
Sapad police chief Major Alibsar Daraba identified the bodies as those of Joselito Gaviola, his wife, Marly Gaviola, his younger sister Elvie Gaviola Legara; Elvie’s husband, Epifanio Legara; and their three children, Jopay Legara, Jomar Legara and Epifanio Legara Jr. The victims were all from Purok Dama de Noche, Sitio Luguimit, Poblacion, Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur.
In an interview by local media, PMaj. Daraba said all of the victims had gunshots in their heads and three of the bodies were hogtied. Police also recovered empty shells of .45 caliber pistol at the site.
The bodies were brought to a funeral parlor in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte for post mortem examination and will be transported back to their hometown.
Meanwhile, a relative revealed the victims were recruited to work in Cebu. They were supposed to ride a vehicle in Pagadian City en route to Cagayan de Oro where they will then proceed to Cebu. They left Friday, January 5.
photos from Sapad MPS
