Pablo Tariman is bringing home to Daraga, Albay the body of his daughter, Kerima Lorena, the New People’s Army leader, who was slain during the Aug. 20 encounter in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
With Kerima’s 18-year-old son, Pablo arrived Monday in the province to claim her cadaver.
1Lt. Dansan Camua, 79IB Civil Military Operations officer, said Pablo also made arrangements with the Manapla Funeral Parlor in Silay City for Kerima’s cremation.
The Philippine Army tagged Ka Ella as the secretary of the NPA Northern Negros Front.
She died along with Joery Dato-on Cocuba, alias Ka Pabling, during an encounter with the military in Hacienda Raymunda, Brgy. Kapitan Ramon, Silay City.
An Army soldier also died in the gunbattle.
Cocuba, 38, was from Barangay Consing, EB Magalona. His identity was confirmed by two of his neighbors in the barangay, although his family has yet to come forward to claim his cadaver.
Ka Pabling was also linked by the military to the burning of three heavy equipment in Barangay San Isidro, EB Magalona, in April this year.
Aside from war materials, the 79IB also recovered several copies of extortion letters during the encounter in Kapitan Ramon. The military said the letters are for sugar planters and businessmen, among others, in the areas of Silay, Victorias, and EB Magalona.
Kerima, her father said, was a student activist and poet. She was former managing editor of the Philippine Collegian, the campus publication of the University of the Philippines.
She is survived by her husband Ericson Acosta and their 18-year-old son.
Meanwhile, the NPA’s Regional Operational Command in Negros Island issued a statement, mourning the loss of Tariman and Cocuba.
“The masses of Negros have Ka Ella and Ka Pabling deep in their hearts. They mourn the death of revolutionary martyrs who fought for their liberation from decades-long feudal exploitation,” the statement said.
Their deaths were a “sacrifice that reminds us to steel our commitment to the revolutionary cause and fearlessly take on their unfinished tasks until revolutionary victory,” it added. – GB
