• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The families of five New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who died in a series of encounters with Philippine Army soldiers in Negros Occidental and Iloilo received financial aid and food assistance from the national government on Monday (Aug. 12).
1Lt. Dan Carlo Somosa, civil-military operations officer of 79th Infantry Battalion, said on Tuesday that the families of slain rebels, Joe Caramihan and Jandie Pastidio, each received P10,000 financial aid and food assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Caramihan were both killed in a series of gunbattles on Feb. 21 to 27 in Barangay Pinapugasan, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
The families of the three out of seven rebels killed in recent encounters in Calinog and Lambunao towns in Iloilo, also received similar financial assistance from the provincial government of Antique.
With the help of the 61st and 12th Infantry Battalions, a cash assistance of P10,000 each was provided to the families of Jovelyn Silverio and Jielmor Gauranoc, both residents of Antique, a statement from the 301st Infantry Brigade said.
Silverio and Guaranoc were among the high-ranking leaders of the Regional Headquarters Force of Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay who died in a series of encounters in Barangay Aglonok in Calinog town on Aug. 8.
Jeralyn Cabanting, stepdaughter of Jose Jerry Tacaisan, received P30,000 worth of cash assistance from the Iloilo provincial government.
Tacaisan, a resident of Barangay Bucari, Leon, was killed in a clash with the combined troops of the 61st, 12th, and 82nd Infantry Battalions in Barangay Cabatangan, Lambunao on Aug. 7.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, lauded the concerned infantry units, DSWD, and provincial governments of Iloilo and Antique for their collaborative efforts and quick delivery of assistance to the families of neutralized rebels in Iloilo and Negros.
“This assistance underscores the government’s genuine commitment to aiding those in need, including the NPAs who lost their lives in a futile armed struggle,” Sison said. | GB
