Marikina cemetery facing charges over alleged mishandling of human remains

October 31, 2024 , 06:29 PM

By Gabriel Kim Leal

(October 31, 2024) – The local government of Marikina has filed charges against a cemetery in the city over alleged mishandling of human remains, it announced on Thursday.

Barangka Cemetery exhumed around 800 sacks of human remains, many of which have been left unclaimed in an open area.

“The said remains were exhumed without permit from the city health office sanitation section,” said the local government unit in a media release. “The remains were not buried in accordance with guidelines set forth by Section 89 of PD 856, which requires that burial must be in a grave, tomb, or at sea.”

But the management of Barangka Cemetery cited Marikina City Ordinance No. 020, series of 2010, which imposed a five-year “rental period” for burial lots, locally referred to as “apartments.”

It also ordered that human remains exceeding the five-year limit must be exhumed due to the cemetery’s limited capacity of 5,000 graves.

However, the LGU filed a formal complaint with the Marikina Prosecutor’s Office, accusing the cemetery’s administration and staff of violating the Sanitation Code of the Philippines.

Barangka Cemetery noted that as of August, 100 sacks of human remains have been claimed by their respective families. The number is expected to increase this November 1 and 2.

Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro also condemned the cemetery’s actions, suggesting financial motivations of a criminal group.

“Binebenta nila ‘yung puntod, ‘yung lugar na pinag-alisan. Kaya isang sindikato nga ito, hindi ito ordinaryong galawan ng isa o dalawang tao. Talagang pinagplanuhan,” said Teodoro.

He added that he already issued a moratorium to stop further exhumation of human remains.

“Talagang kailangan natin silang papanagutin dahil kawalan ng respeto ang ginawa nila sa ating mga namayapang mahal sa buhay,” added Teodoro.

(PM)

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