Slain CAFGU member's kin gets gov't aid

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 25, 2021): Slain CAFGU member's kin gets gov't aid (By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay)

FINANCIAL AID. Herminia Mariano (seated) cries for justice for his 20-year-old son, Michael, who was killed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army rebels in Barangay Igbucagay, Hamtic, Antique on Friday (Sept. 24, 2021). On Saturday, she received PHP20,000 from the provincial government, delivered by Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office head Lazaro Petinglay (center) and witnessed by Staff Sergeant Ariel Vargas (left) of the Philippine Army’s 61st Delta Company. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Civilian Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) member who was killed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) rebels in Hamtic, Antique on Friday was the family’s breadwinner.

Michael Mariano, 20, of Barangay Osorio here, was taking a bath outside with his friends when five rebels opened fire at them at about 7 a.m.

Peter Glen Ocario and John Carlo Cabigunda, who are also members of the 4th Platoon of the CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) Detachment, were injured in the incident in Barangay Igbucagay.

Herminia, the victim’s mother, said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Saturday that his son joined the CAA a year ago to help maintain peace in the province and financially support the family after her husband died.

Mariano has three younger siblings.

“Michael was such a generous child that he would send us regularly his salary so that we would have some money to buy our food,” she said.

Mariano was particularly supporting an eight-year-old sibling who has learning difficulties and was not included in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) that only covers a maximum of three children.

“Michael was a 4Ps beneficiary that’s why he was able to reach Grade 12,” Herminia said.

Now, she does not know how to rebuild their lives after her son was murdered by CPP-NPA rebels.

“Michael and his companions were taking a bath when it happened that they were really caught off guard,” she narrated in the vernacular.

On Saturday, Mariano’s family received PHP20,000 from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office while the two injured companions got PHP10,000 each.

They will also be provided with sacks of rice and other food items as initial help from the provincial government, which will also spend on the construction of his tomb as the Philippine Army already shouldered the expenses for the casket and embalmment.

Hamtic municipal police chief, Maj. Rex Farren, earlier said Mariano suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, Ocario was hit on his left leg, and Cabigunda was shot on his left arm.

Based on the initial investigation, the five rebels were about 100 meters away from the area where the CAFGU members were taking a bath.

Recovered at the crime scene were fired and unfired cartridge cases of M16 and M14 rifles.

The Philippines' Anti-Terrorism Council has designated the CPP-NPA and National Democratic Front as terrorist groups.

The European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines also listed the CPP-NPA-NDF as a terrorist organization.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1154658