Army to provide decent burial to slain NPA rebel

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 7, 2020): Army to provide decent burial to slain NPA rebel (By Nanette Guadalquiver)

EXHUMED REMAINS. Village watchmen carry the skeletal remains of a New People’s Army rebel killed by his own comrades and buried in a shallow grave in Barangay Riverside in Isabela, Negros Occidental two years ago. After the exhumation in the first week of December 2020, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division has committed to provide a decent burial to the victim. (Photo courtesy 303rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army)

The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) has committed to provide a decent burial for a Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) rebel killed by his own comrades and buried in a shallow grave two years ago.

The skeletal remains of Randy Garsola, 34, were exhumed only a week ago in Sitio Aguntilang 3, Barangay Riverside in Isabela, Negros Occidental.

Maj. Cenon Pancito III, chief of 3ID Public Affairs Office, said on Monday that Garsola’s remains are in the custody of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office Scene of the Crime Operation specialists.

“It will be subjected to a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) test in coordination with the Philippine National Police. After the whole process, they will inform us and the family regarding the burial,” Pancito told the Philippine News Agency.

Garsola, a resident of Purok Malibog, Sitio Mahupaho, Barangay San Agustin in Isabela town, was a member of SDG Platoon of the NPA’s Central Negros 1 Front, Komiteng Rehiyon Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor.

A witness, known as "Ka Rey/Ray", told the authorities that Garsola was summarily executed upon the orders of platoon leader Adidas “Ka Bato/Baldo” Acero in Barangay La Libertad in October 2018.

Garsola had wished to surrender because of hunger and longing for his family, but Acero allegedly refused to let him leave and ordered the former's comrades to kill him.

Last Sept. 19, Acero, who has seven warrants of arrest for various crimes, was apprehended by troops of the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion and Philippine National Police in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.

On Sunday, Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya, commander of the 3ID, said the fate of Garsola should be an eye-opener for NPA combatants still hiding in the mountains.

“Come down, return to the fold of the law, and avail of the government’s integration program to start a normal and productive life with your family,” he appealed.

Vinoya said Garsola deserves to have a decent burial despite being a part of the communist-terrorist group, adding that he was merely a victim of the NPA’s lies and deceptions and deprived of liberty to visit his loved ones by his own comrades.

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

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1124059