NorCot gives financial aid to families of ambushed Army combatants

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 24): NorCot gives financial aid to families of ambushed Army combatants

Governor Emmylou Mendoza handed over on Wednesday financial assistance to the families of nine Army men killed in an ambush perpetrated by communist rebels here earlier this week.

Mendoza personally condoled with the bereaved family of Sgt. Alonto Heramis, a member of the Army’s 1002nd Brigade, who was killed along with eight other colleagues in the boundary of Barangay Caridad and Bituan here last Oct. 21.

Along with this, the governor sent Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Members Noel Baynosa, Joemar Cerebo and Loreto Cabaya Jr. to the families of the other killed soldiers as well as those wounded in action.

Baynosa went to Kidapawan area, Cerebo to Matalam and Cabaya to Midsayap, met with the families and distributed the much-needed financial support to augment such costs as the burial of the soldiers.

Mendoza personally handed the amount of P10,000 cash to the family of Heramis while the same amount was distributed by the board members to the rest of the victims’ families.

Aside from Heramis, the other fatalities were identified as SSgt. Joel Hadlucon; Sgt. Jovencio S. Ocho; Cpls. Thong M. Bansuan, Razzel Baylon, Roger Espititu; CAAs Jonell Tundocan, Melquides Butaslac Jr. and Reynaldo Ballesteros.

The soldiers belonging to 1002nd Brigade and also those from the 38th and 57th Infantry Battalions were on their way to Barangay Caridad on board an Army truck when hit by a landmine planted by New People’s Army rebels.

Wounded in same incident were 1Lt. Bruno Jugo, Sgt. Gredum Maybitoin, S/Sgt. Rolando Abastillas, PFC Frederick Barcenal and CAA Elmer Esmella.

All injured personnel were also given P 5,000 each by Mendoza as financial assistance.

The governor assured the families to give justice to the victims of the attack.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=579519