• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The families of five New People’s Army rebels that died in series of encounters with Army soldiers in Negros Occidental and Iloilo, got financial aid and food assistance from the national government, as facilitated by the Philippine Army.
1Lt. Dan Carlo Somosa, 79th Infantry Battalion Civil Military Operations chief, disclosed on Tuesday that the families of slain rebels, Joe Caramihan and Jandie Pastidio, received P10,000 in financial assistance, and food assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Caramihan, alias Joe, and Pastidio, alias Jandie, were both killed in a series of gun battles on February 21 to 27 in Barangay Pinapugasan, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
The turnover of financial assistance on August 12 was witnessed by barangay officials of Jonob Jonob and Pinapugasan in Escalante City, at the DSWD provincial office in Bacolod City.
On the same day, 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 Antiques.
With the help of the 61st and 12th Infantry Battalions, cash assistance of P10,000 each was provided to the families of Jovelyn Silverio, with aliases of Darlyn, Kaykay ,Akay, and Porang, and Jielmor Gauranoc, with aliases of Doc, Tango, and Baron, both residents of Antique, a statement from the Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade said.
Silverio and Guaranoc were among the high-ranking leaders of the Regional Headquarters Force (RHQF) of Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay, who were killed in a series of encounters in Barangay Aglonok in Calinog town on August 8.
On the other hand, Jeralyn Cabanting, stepdaughter of Jose Jerry Tacaisan, known as Miller/Bronze, also received P30,000 worth of cash assistance from the Iloilo provincial government of Iloilo.
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 August 7.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, lauded the concerned Army 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. This simple gesture of kindness reaffirms our dedication to serving and helping all citizens, regardless of the circumstances, especially during this difficult time,” Sison said.*
