Residents near Laud Quarry clueless about Lascañas claims

Residents living near Laud Quarry on Tuesday said they were clueless about the claims of retired SPO3 Arturo Lascañas that victims of the alleged Davao Death Squad (DDS) were buried there.

In a report on "24 Oras," GMA News' Victoria Tulad traveled to the site, but its gates were closed. No security guard or caretaker was present.

When asked if she had entered the quarry, resident Gina Pepito replied: "Oo. Pero wala naman kaming nakita na mayroong pinatay diyan," Pepito said.

Other residents recalled hearing gunshots inside the compound since the quarry also served as a firing range under former owner two to three years ago, the report said.

The quarry has not been used as a firing range since.

The Commission on Human Rights recovered bones at the quarry in 2009 under former chairperson Leila De Lima but investigations did not bear fruit, the report said.

Davao City PNP chief Sr. Supt. Michael Dubria said authorities are unsure whether the bones were human or from animals.

"We could not really ascertain if the bones taken from that area are bones of human beings or bones of animals that were butchered in that place," Dubria said. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/JST, GMA News