• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Left behind by their fleeing comrades at the encounter site, the remains of two New People’s Army (NPA) regional leaders were turned over by the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion to their respective families.
In a statement, Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) commander, said their action in returning the remains of Hans Ponteras and Marissa Pobresa, to their families shows their “continuing commitment to upholding humanitarian values in the conduct of duty.”
The body of Ponteras was received by his sister in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City on March 12 while that of Ponteras was brought to her family home in Barangay Tan-awan in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on March 9.
Ponteras, who was reported by the Philippine Army as the sitting secretary of the Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and head of the Regional Taxation Implementing Group, and Pobresa, regional communication officer, died in an encounter on March 8 with 79IB soldiers in Barangay Caduhaan, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
“Even in tragic and traumatic events brought by war, we can state the reality that even enemies can show respect to one another,” Calaoagan said.
He added that as he understands the pain of every parent who has lost a child to the deception of the communist-terrorist group, Calaoagan said he hopes this will serve as a wake-up call for those who are still being misled by false ideologies.
“We fervently hope that this serves as a clear example of what awaits you, if you keep on fighting the government and the rule of law, armed with baseless and false ideologies,” Calaoagan said. | GB
