Marikina LGU offers cremation of 'illegally exhumed' remains from Barangka Cemetery

The local government of Marikina City is offering free cremation of the remains that were “illegally” exhumed at the Barangka Public Cemetery.

In a press release on Friday, Mayor Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro said the local government has been reaching the concerned and affected families.

“Kinokontak natin ngayon ang mga pamilya na may mga labi na natagpuan nitong nakaraang araw, na nakalagay ngayon sa isang temporary holding facility," Teodoro said.

(We are reaching the concerned families of those remains that have been exhumed. The remains are now in a temporary holding facility.)

The city government will shoulder the cremation of the remains if the affected families wish to do so, according to the mayor.

He added that they would be given options such as transferring the remains to the ossuary or columbarium.

"Libre ito ‘yung cremation kung nanaisin ng mga pamilya na mako-contact at tinatawagan natin ngayon," Teodoro said.

(The cremation will be free if the family whom we are contacting wishes to do so.)

Earlier reports said dozens of remains were found to have been illegally exhumed at the Barangka Public Cemetery days before All Saints’ Day.

The remains were piled up in a corner of the cemetery when found by the personnel of the Marikina Health Office.

Teodoro, meanwhile, said affected families could contact the new management of the Barangka Public Cemetery or the Marikina City Health Office led by Dr. Christopher Guevara.

A mass will also be held at the Barangka Public Cemetery on November 2 to pay respect to the exhumed remains, Teodoro said.

Complaint filed

The local government had filed a complaint against the personnel of the Barangka Public Cemetery for the supposed improper handling of human remains.

The complaint, lodged before the Marikina City Prosecutors’ Office, was filed against the cemetery personnel in alleged collusion with private individuals who conducted unauthorized and illegal exhumation of human remains.

In the complaint, Dr. Christopher N. Guevara, head of the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU), and Rolando V. Dalusong, chief of Environmental Health and Sanitation, cited violations of Presidential Decree 856 (Philippine Sanitation Code) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), specifically Section 5, which forbids unauthorized exhumation or disturbance of remains without a permit.

It stressed that these actions not only breached sanitation guidelines but also disrespected the deceased, later causing emotional distress to their families and even to the community.

Based on the initial accounting of the City Health Office (CHO), around 65 remains have been exhumed.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News