Bones of contention. A farmer who lives in Buhisan told an Ear source he still finds bones he suspects belonged to Japanese soldiers killed during World War II whenever he ploughs his fields.
One time he said he found several skeleton and skulls and moved them to another part of his field so he could plant. The source also said sometimes Japanese come to the mountain to buy the remains so these can be repatriated to Japan.
But before they are paid the bones are analyzed and tested if they are really those of Japanese soldiers. If so, the farmer who found them stands to receive a handsome reward.
He also said that while some of his neighbors have made a fortune of finding bones and regularly comb the brush of nearby mountains for skeletons, he fears some form of bad luck if he sold the skulls he found on his lot.
“Hadlok ko madimalas ko,” he said, “lainan man gani ko mohikap ato nila.”