• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion reached out to the family of Jose Caramihan, one of the three suspected New People’s Army rebels who died in a series of encounters on February 21 in Brgy. Pinapugasan, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
In a statement issued by the 79IB, its commander, Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, accompanied by Pinapugasan barangay officials, recently met with the wife of Caramihan, Josefa, and their daughters, and personally extended his sympathies.
Calaoagan explained to them that Jose, a regular member of the dismantled Northern Negros Front of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor, was recruited by the NPA through lies and deceptions.
“It is also with deep sorrow and pain for us to witness a life lost, as a sacrifice of those who use the vulnerable to justify their senseless ideology” he stressed.
“Another wasted life and a family was left devastated due to the senseless ideology of the New People’s Army (NPA). A happy family might have existed, but their propaganda and lies ruined it,” Calaoagan further said.
Nevertheless, in spite of this tragic loss, the government is still here to offer help and assistance and to extend a helping hand, and a sincere message that “we are not enemies,” he also stressed.
The 79IB statement also said that the visit ended with the Caramihan family’s acceptance of the support and cooperation with the Philippine Army, and a guarantee of assisting them in securing support and scholarships for the three daughters of Caramihan, and assistance for their basic needs, in partnership with the Escalante City government, among other stakeholders.*
