Kalinaw News: Orphaned Children whose parents were murdered by NPA in Central Negros receive financial Assistance

Posted to Kalinaw News (Aug 14, 2021): Orphaned Children whose parents were murdered by NPA in Central Negros receive financial Assistance



GUIHULNGAN CITY, Negros Oriental – The Guihulngan City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (GCTF-ELCAC) in partnership with the Headquarters Central Command, AFP through the 3rd Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service, AFP in Cebu City and 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion, 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, Philippine Army assisted the orphaned children whose parents were killed by Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT). Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00) financial assistance from the proceeds of “Heroes Adventure Challenge” was handed over to the orphaned children at the City Mayor’s Office, Brgy Poblacion, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on August 11, 2021.

The said assistance was personally turned over by Chief Petty Officer Renault M Lao PN (Res), a volunteer AFP reservist and Co-owner of Bikes and Brews. His organization, together with the ACTIVEHUB Fitness Center and Smarties, are the organizers of the “Heroes Adventure Challenge,” a virtual 3-leg multi-sporting event that started last July and will end on November 2021. The first leg opened on July 10 to August 10, 2021, and features three (3) events: Run, Bike Distance, and Bike Elevation, to raise funds to support the scholarship for children affected by armed conflict in Guihulngan City.

On May 14, 2021, Leonardo Panaligan Command – New People’s Army (LPC-NPA) in Central Negros ruthlessly murdered four (4) civilians at Sitio Agit, Brgy Trinidad, Guihulngan City, namely: Ronelo Quirante, Roger Fat, Rodrigo Lubay, and his wife Celerina Lubay. These victims were the former refuge of the rebels whenever they hid in military and police operations. They also provided food and other logistical support to the armed group. They were suspected by the CTG as government informants who were accordingly instruments to the major setback they suffered during the encounter in the area on March 23, 2021 which resulted to the neutralization of 10 LPC-NPA personalities, rescue of one (1) child warrior and capture of 11 High Powered Firearms including an M60 machine gun. “This incident will not be a hindrance to achieve the dreams of the orphaned children. We are happy to help people in need especially the victims of NPA atrocities,” says Mr. Lao.

“We were going through a lot, my previous life suddenly became a huge responsibility, after farming, I even took my siblings’ modules so they could continue their studies. Three (3) of them were in elementary school, two (2) were in high school and even me, would have been to college too. We really hated them (NPA), they are heartless, after my parents helped them, they even avenged death and even killed them in front of us,” the angry statement and resentment of Reneboy, 24 years old and the second eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. Rodrigo Lubay. He added, “However, we do not lose hope in life, we are grateful to the Army, and to the government officials of Guihulngan City and especially to those who have given us this financial assistance, this would be of great help for us to live and continue to study. We thank you very much, and our heartfelt thanks to those who joined the “Heroes Adventure Challenge.”

Moreover, GCTF-ELCAC under the leadership of Hon. Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes, Guihulngan City Mayor expressed his gratitude of appreciation, “We are very grateful to Army and to our benevolent partner stakeholders for giving value to the people of Guihulngan City, especially to the victims of CNT atrocities. The Local Government of Guihulngan City will provide livelihood assistance, housing and scholarship program. Again, we are sending our grateful appreciation to Bikes and Brews, ACTIVEHUB Fitness Center and Smarties. Let’s always support their great endeavour and care to our constituents.”

Furthermore, Lt. Col Melvin N. Flores, PA Commander, 62IB said, “Every Filipino is a hero. We are grateful to the organizers of “Heroes Adventure Challenge” despite of pandemic they were still able to initiate activities that will help our countrymen especially the victims of CNT atrocities. It’s just a demonstration that we Filipinos care about each other. I hope they will be imitated by other organizations who always say that they are for the people. Relatedly, I also call on our local residents to continue to be vigilant and do not hesitate to report for any presence of armed NPA in your area. This is to prevent the same fate that happened in Brgy Trinidad. Let us all continue in condemning the human rights violations and stop the Communist NPA Terrorists violence and atrocities,” he ended.

[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]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/orphaned-children-whose-parents-were-murdered-by-npa-in-central-negros-receive-financial-assistance/