The remains of a deceased NPA were exhumed through a joint retrieval operation conducted by the 1001st Infantry Brigade, 28IB, PNP Maragusan, Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay (RPSB), and Municipal Health Office of Maragusan in the vicinity of Barangay Coronobe, Maragusan, Davao de Oro, on May 11, 2023.
The recovery and retrieval of the remains of a certain Leonardo I Ellera Senior (Sr), a.k.a. Jimmy, Squad Leader of Squad 3 of the Dismantled Guerrilla Front 2 (DGF-2), operating in the areas of Davao de Oro, was made possible through the information given by Jeg, the former Commanding Officer of the said NPA unit. They were accompanied by Leonardo Ellera Junior (Jr.), a.k.a. Jimmy’s son, during the exhumation.
Based on the interview, a.k.a. Jeg revealed that a.k.a. Jimmy died of hypothermia on April 27, 2022. He further ascertained from Leonardo Jr. that Leonardo Sr., his father, was buried there.
Accordingly, the relentless combat operations conducted by the security forces in the area forced them to bury the latter in a knee-deep, unmarked grave. It can be recalled that a.k.a. Jeg surrendered to the government on June 20, 2022, with his party wife, a.k.a. Dan-dan, former Secretary of the DGF-2, and two others.
Colonel Ronnie B. Babac, Commander of the 1001st Brigade, lauded the troops’ accomplishments.
“This accomplishment only shows how we value the family's agony despite their rebels' aggression towards us and the people. It is but only human to put a premium on the feelings of the families of the NPAs who are still, until now, uncertain of the fate of their loved ones.
With that, I congratulate you and encourage you further to continue to exert efforts on recovering the remains of other deceased and slain NPAs, so that their families’ uncertainties and questions of their whereabouts will finally be closed."
The remains of Jimmy, a.k.a. Jimmy, were immediately transported to his residence at Brgy. Del Pilar, Municipality of Mabini, and were received by his wife, Elena. It was immediately and finally laid to rest at the Mabini Public Cemetery at around 5:30 in the afternoon on the same day. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)
