BACOLOD City – Residents of Barangay Puso in La Castellana, Negros Occidental honored their kin who were the fallen victims and survivors of an ambush committed by the New People’s Army (NPA).
“After seven years of the tragedy that brought painful memories, we are here coming together in our desire to bring peace and order to our municipality,” said Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan during a ceremony that commemorated the seventh year anniversary on Feb. 6.
She noted that through the assistance of the municipal government, nine children of the victims were able to graduate from college, and they are now professionals.
The commemoration rites were held at the site of the massacre. A Holy Mass was celebrated and wreaths were offered by the families and relatives of the victims.
Nicor-Mangilimutan, troops of the Philippine Army led by Lieutenant Colonel Egberto Dacoscos, commanding officer of the 62nd Infantry Battalion, and personnel of the Philippine National Police joined the officials and families of the victims of Barangay Puso in remembering the event.
On Jan. 27, 2013, eight civilians and a policeman were killed, while 12 others were injured on their way home from a fiesta in a neighboring village. The NPA rebels claimed the responsibility and apologized.
For his part, Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, commended the municipal government for honoring the victims of the massacre.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines are one with the families of the victims in seeking justice against the communist-terrorist NPA. We will continue to hunt down the armed group and stop them, their relentless killing of innocent civilians,” he added. (With a report from PNA/PN)
