Fleeing NPA rebel abandons baby

From Panay News (Jan 14, 2021): Fleeing NPA rebel abandons baby (BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA)

BACOLOD City – To evade patrolling soldiers, a suspected New People’s Army rebel abandoned her two-month-old son yesterday morning in the house of a villager in Barangay San Fernando in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

“We are saddened that the baby was abandoned by her mother for a senseless cause,” said Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Alvaran, commander of the Philippine Army’s 79 Infantry Battalion (79IB).

According to Alvaran, 79IB troops arrived in Hacienda Ambulog, Barangay San Fernando after learning about the presence of rebels there, prompting “Ka Jandy” and comrade “Ka Moneth” to flee.

“Ka Jandy had a choice, but she chose to leave her child and go against the government,” Alvaran said.

The infant was turned over by the soldiers and the Talisay City police station to the care of the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

Around 2:20 p.m., the troops came to the house of Marilyn Dianton and found the baby.

They recovered subversive documents with high intelligence value, medical supplies, including a pack of birth control pills, infant’s clothes, feeding bottles, disposable diapers, and other baby stuff, as well as food items such as rice, canned goods, and instant noodles.

The troops also seized three mobile phones, seven phone batteries, two cellular phone chargers, a power bank, and a gas stove with five butane fuel canisters.

Alvaran thanked the residents who provided the information about the rebels.

“Your continuous support by way of relaying information (to us) contributes a lot to our fight against insurgency,” he added.

Alvaran urged “Ka Jandy” and her comrades to “lay down their arms and abandon the pointless armed struggle.”

“The government is willing to help them start anew,” he said.

http://www.panaynews.net/fleeing-npa-rebel-abandons-baby/