SHARIFF SAYDONA MUSTAPHA, MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR / CALATAGAN, BATANGAS — The families of three missing residents from Calatagan, Batangas are calling for justice after their lifeless bodies were discovered in a shallow grave in Sitio Goma, Barangay Nabundas, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao del Sur on Friday, May 30, 2025.
Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) Spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Jopy Ventura confirmed that the bodies, found in a rubber plantation, were those of John Luis Olarte, Gerry Olarte, and Ronald Alumno. The victims had been missing since May 11 after reportedly delivering goats to a client in the town of Mamasapano.
The bodies were uncovered around 9:30 a.m. after a concerned citizen reported a foul odor coming from the area. Responding authorities from the Provincial Forensic Unit led the exhumation, revealing that the victims’ hands had been tied with rope. No identification cards were found on them, and the corpses were already in an advanced stage of decomposition.
The cadavers have been turned over to a funeral home in Barangay Ampatuan for proper handling, while police continue their investigation to identify the suspects and motive behind the killing.
In an emotional appeal, the victims’ families urged the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government to thoroughly investigate the incident and ensure accountability.
“We will not stop until we attain justice for our loved ones. We hope the BARMM officials hear us and take action to stop this kind of violence,” said one family member.
The families also called on the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) and the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC) to conduct an independent investigation, fearing that the case might be neglected or whitewashed.
Describing the victims as hardworking and peaceful citizens with no ties to any illegal activity, the families said the gruesome killing was unjust and demanded that those responsible be held accountable.
“Justice, not silence, is what we need,” the grieving families declared.