ILOILO – The families of two suspected rebel leaders killed in a military operation on Dec. 1 in Barangay Alimodias, Miag-ao town held the New People’s Army (NPA) responsible for their loved one’s death.
Lydia, 57, of Barangay Langka, San Joaquin, mother of 20-year-old Juveniel Sandig alias Francis, shared her son was missing since December 2017. He was 17 years old then.
“Wara kami kamaan nga nag-intra na sia gali sa NPA. Abi namon nag trabaho lang kay halin pagkadura nya wara gid nagpabatyag hasta nga nabalitaan lang namon napatay tana sa encounter. Maan sanday sin-o ‘to nag-recruit sa bata ko,” Lydia said.
Paneng, 32, sister of Sandig, turned emotional.
“Daad mapatay man ang nag-recruit sa bugto ko para wara dun kamo may ma-recruit nga kabataan. Sakit-sakit gid nga maduraan sang bugto. Daad untatan na ninyo nga pang-recruit. Ang akon bugto minor pa sang gin-recruit. Wara nyo nabatyagan nga maduraan bugto. Nagapasalamat kami sa Army nga gin dara nanda ang bangkay sa punerarya,” Paneng said.
On the other hand, Nanay Iki, 63, mother of Roger Pedro alias Lim/Gurang of Barangay Osorio, San Remigio, Antique, also lamented on the passing of her 39-year-old son.
“Nakita ko na gid man ang akon bata pagkatapos sang 17 anyos, pero mayami na nga bangkay. Indi ko ron mahakos bilang iloy niya. Wara gid ko kamaan nga nag-NPA na sia. Nag lisensya nga mangamo, pero wara gid nagpabatyag sa pira ka tuig hasta nga gin balitaan nanda ako nga patay ron tana,” Nanay Iki said.
She said a few years ago, soldiers told her that her son was a leader of the NPA, “pero daw indi pa ako magpati.”
Nanay Iki added: “Kon naka uli tana, ako gid mahambal kana nga mag-surrender garing wara ka uli. Ginabasol ko ang nag-recruit. Nagapa kalinong bata ko gin-recruit nanda.”
Six more suspected rebels were killed on Dec. 1. They were the following:
* Leonard Taburete alias Tatang/Toms – leader of team 1, squad 2, Suyak (SDG) platoon and resident of Tubungan, Iloilo;
* a certain Inday/Jeboy – assistant team leader, team 1, squad 2 and resident of San Jaoquin, Iloilo;
* Liezel Tacuel alias Dayday/April/Jare – member, squad 1, command group, front 11 and resident of Tubungan, Iloilo;
* Girly Tejeros alias Elay – member of Suyak (SDG) platoon and resident of Tigbauan, Iloilo;
* Rica Nudgara alias Amber – member, front 11, of Miag-ao, Iloilo; and
* Eugene Estopido Talibo alias Africk – member, team 1, squad 1, Suyak (SDG) Platoon, from Igbaras, Iloilo
According to 301st Brigade commander, Brigadier General Marion Sison, they belonged to the NPA’s Southern Front, Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay.
There were eight more casualties but they were yet to be identified; they would be subjected to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test, Sison said.
But, on Friday, their top leader, Joven Ceralvo alias “Lex” was confirmed dead.
Ceralvo was the second deputy secretary of the NPA’s Kometing Rehiyon-Panay (SF KR-P) Southern Front and commanding officer of the Front Operational Command, Kometing Rehiyon-Panay (FOC KR-P).
His death was confirmed by the 301B following a forensic examination.
Ceralvo had a string of criminal cases such as rebellion, frustrated murder, double multiple attempted murder, robbery, and arson.
Aside from their cadavers, the soldiers also recovered from the site three M16 rifles, an AK47 rifle, four anti-personnel mines, three detonators, one projector, subversive documents with high intelligence value, and assorted personal belongings.
Meanwhile, Sison said they would coordinate with the local government units to help the family of slain rebels have a decent burial./PN
