Slain soldiers get military honors

From the Visayan Daily Star (Apr 22, 2020): Slain soldiers get military honors (BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN)

The three Army fallen heroes of Negros Occidental were accorded full military honors by the 303rd Infantry Brigade led by Col. Inocencio Pasaporte during a send-off ceremony at the Bacolod Silay Airport yesterday, before their remains were returned to their families.

The remains of 2Lt. Ralf Amante Abibico and PFC Carl Venice Bustamante were airlifted by a Philippine Air Force C295 cargo plane to General Santos and the Clark International Airport, to be delivered to their homes in Surallah, South Cotabato, and Bauko, Mountain Province, Maj. Franco Ver Lopez, 303IB Civil Military Operations officer, said.

The remains of Cpl. Joel Nobleza was brought by an Air Force UH-IH helicopter to Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz, for delivery to his residence in Jamindan, Capiz.

"In honor of their sacrifice for the nation, we assure that all the processing of their benefits will be taken care of, and all necessary assistance will be extended to their families,” Pasaporte said in a statement

He added that Army soldiers will continue with their community security patrols in Himamaylan City and in Negros Island, to ensure the unhampered and swift distribution of the SAP in the region and for the protection of every Negrense.

The three Army soldiers were among members of the 94th Infantry Battalion, who were conducting community security patrols in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, following complaints by residents of extortion activities of the New People’s Army.

The target victims of the terrorist group, the military said, are the beneficiaries of the SAP distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development for COVID-19 affected families in the area.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2020/April/22/topstory2.htm