Kalinaw News: ARMY, LGUs arrange a decent burial for deceased NPAs in Agusan del Norte

Posted to Kalinaw News (Dec 31, 2020): ARMY, LGUs arrange a decent burial for deceased NPAs in Agusan del Norte



KITCHARAO, Agusan Del Norte- The 29th Infantry (Matatag Fighters) Battalion together with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Jabonga Municipality and Cabadbaran City recently arranged a decent burial for the deceased NPAs in the area of Agusan del Norte

It can be recalled that the unit launched an operation in response to the information provided by displeased civilians regarding the presence of armed terrorists in the outskirts of Brgy. Baleguian, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte. The operation resulted in a firefight causing the death of two NPA members (1 male and 1 female) and the seizure of two AK47 rifles, assorted magazines with serviceable ammunition, one cellphone, personal belongings, and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

The recovered bodies of the members of the NPA were turned over to the personnel of Jabonga Municipal Police Station; then brought immediately to the hospital and afterwards to Alfranz Funeral Homes, Cabadbaran City where they awaited their family to claim their bodies.

The male NPA member was identified as Reggie May Ochavillo alias Thunder, 20 years old from Cabadbaran City. His body was turned over to his grandparents and sister on the evening of December 28, 2020.

“Daghan gyud kaayong salamat kay nitabang mo, mga sundalo bisan ug NPA akong apo. Inyo gyud gitagaan ug saktong bili ang akong apo, gikan sa pagnaog sa iya sa bukid, sa pagsundo kanamo aron makita siya ug sa paghatag ug tabang aron maplastar siya. Kaning akong apo nangandoy gyud ni siya nga mahimong sundalo apan gilingla siya sa mga NPA.” Lolo Nerio Ochavillo, Reggie’s grandfather said.

(“I am indeed grateful to the soldiers who helped us even though my grandson is an NPA. Thank you for assisting us so we could see him and for letting us give him a decent burial even though it hurts us to see him without life already. My grandson dreamt of becoming a soldier but the NPA deceived him.)

Likewise, at 2 a.m. of December 30, 2020, Annabelle Montero, came to view the cadaver of the female NPA which she identified and confirmed as her sister Marife Mercansel Montero, 23 years old from Tago, Surigao del Sur.

Annabelle Montero became emotional seeing the body of their youngest sister laid in the casket.

“Amo ni siyang bunso. Ang amo gyud nasayran nga nagskwela ni siya ug tarong unya lahi naman diay ni iyang gisudlan. Nananghid ni siya sa amo nga muiskwela unya gipadalhan ni syag kwarta sa among inahan aron pang-enroll niya. Didto gyud ni siya narecruit sa eskwelahan sa iyang mga classmate.”

(She is our youngest sister. All we know is that she was doing well in her studies but we did not know that she had joined a different organization. She told us that she will go to school so our mother sent her money for her enrollment. But then she was recruited while in school by her classmates.)

According to gathered information, one of Marife’s older sister, Leonida Mercansel Montero alias Mina/Tony is similarly a member of the NPA who is still moving in the mountains.

According to Lt. Colonel Aristotle F Antonio, Commanding Officer of 29th Infantry “Matatag Fighters” Battalion, “I am saddened to see the terrible situation that our youths fall into after being deceived by the NPA. The latter just takes advantage of these young minds for their selfish gains and leave them to suffer a miserable fate. This is a sad reality that will befall our youths if we fail to fully guard and guide them. I know that as parents we want only that which is best for our kids. But we cannot give nor assure them of that if our actions and example are influenced by the sweet lies of the NPA.

I know that many of your family members or loved ones are still blind to the truth. We do not want the same fate for our fellows. So, we plead with you once more to help us make them see the light, and find their way back. And, if you think that lying about them and hiding their true nature from us would protect them, think about it again for doing so will just put them in great danger.

We fervently pray that Reggie’s and Marife’s souls will rest in peace. Their deaths should not have happened if only they heeded our call to surrender. And so, to all other NPAs, this is a stern warning to all of you.”

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

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