• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The family of the late Negrense soldier, Private First Class Rodelo Alfanza, received a total of P290,000 in cash assistance from a party-list group, the provincial government of Iloilo and the Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Association Inc. (AFPMBAI).
In a statement, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) said that Elizabeth Alfanza, mother of the soldier-hero from Sagay City, Negros Occidental, received the P100,000 cash assistance from Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co through Lt. Col. Arturo Balgos Jr., commanding officer of the 61st Infantry Battalion, at Camp Monteclaro in Miag-ao, Iloilo on Feb. 14.
The AFPMBAI gave P145,000 while the Iloilo provincial government also extended P50,000 to the family of Alfanza, who died in an encounter with New People’s Army rebels in Tubungan, Iloilo on Jan. 17.
Also injured in the encounter was Sgt. Ernie Dionson.
Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3ID commander, expressed his appreciation to the Philippine Army partners and stakeholders for their generosity to the families of Alfanza and Dionson.
“This kind gesture is a vivid manifestation that the Army, other government agencies and the private sector maintain a strong collaboration, cooperation, and partnership towards achieving sustainable peace and development in Western and Central Visayas,” Sison said. | GB
