nn: Further probe into the discovery of GOMBURZA remains needed

[Phil. News Agency]

By Malou L. Sayson

MANILA, Feb. 6 (PNA) --- Concerned groups are asking for a further
probe into the authenticity of the alleged excavation of the remains of
one of the GOMBURZA priests at the Paco Park Cemetery following reports
that the search for the missing remains of the priests is about to bear
fruit.

Fr. Robert Reyes, chair of GOMBURZA, a Filipino Catholic and
service-oriented organization, stressed the need for more validation of
any findings made. "We call for more thorough tests so that we can be
assured that this is really one of the bodies and that the news is not
merely crafted to coincide with or boost the centennial celebration."

Fr. Reyes was reacting to the release made by Engr. Magdiwang Recato
of the Manila City Engineers Office indicating some valuable findings.
"We excavated the general site where the alleged tomb of the martyred
priests lies and four concrete boxes were found placed side by side. The
leftmost box carried bones which could prove to be that of a GOMBURZA
priest," Engr. Recato said in the release.

The GOMBURZA group is raising questions on the reliability of the
methodology used in the excavation of the alleged remains.

"We are not denying that we spearheaded the campaign to look for the
bodies, but we will be happy if the methodology used is more reliable to
really identify that the alleged remains is one of the GOMBURZA's," Fr.
Reyes said.

Fr. Reyes does not deny the fact that the bodies of the GOMBURZA
priests were buried in Paco Park. What makes him wonder, though, is how
the city government was able to find said remains, considering that
renovations are being conducted from time to time and the bones are
transferred from one place to another.

In this light, the GOMBURZA is asking that the finds at the Paco Park
be examined by physical anthropologists or forensic experts for purposes
of determining the presence of broken neck bones as a result of execution
by garrote.

Fr. Reyes pointed out that since 1994 their group has started to look
into the exact burial grounds of the priests with the help of an
archeologist from Arizona, a certain Dr. Longacher, utilizing old maps
of the Paco Cemetery. The priest was urged to get an underground x-ray
and look for three rosaries placed next to one another in his search for
the bodies.

The GOMBURZA decided to look for the remains of the GOMBURZA priests
in order to give them a decent burial.

GOMBURZA, according to the priest, has been sending letters to the
National Historical Institute (NHI) and the administration of the Paco
Park requesting for some assistance for their excavation activities such
as access to the original cemetery maps showing the location of
prominent figures executed and buried in the park.

On the part of Engr. Recato, he clarified that the bones still have to
be carbon-tested before these could be considered as authentic.

The GOMBURZA priests, namely, Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Apolonio
Burgos and Jacinto Zamora, were executed at Bagumbayan on February 17,

1872 for their alleged involvement in the Cavite mutiny. The priests
were advocates of the secularization of the Filipino clergy which earned
the ire of the Spaniards. As a result, they were given a farce trial and
were sentenced two days later to die by garrote.

After their execution, which was witnessed by Dr. Jose Rizal, their
bodies were thrown into the trenches in the outer cemetery of Paco where
criminals and commoners were buried.

To give proper honor to the priests, the National Centennial
Commission through GOMBURZA Committee chaired by Manila City Mayor
Alfredo Lim, in cooperation with the NHI, is having the ladies' comfort
room over the burial site dismantled and a marker put up in its place.

NCC Commissioner and Executive Director Luis J. Morales had earlier
expressed interest in the new discovery, which is yet to be subjected to
further tests, as he emphasized the importance of the GOMBURZA execution
in the shaping of the Philippine history. (PNA) fpv/mls

PNA 02061520

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