Reunion with twin bro remains a dream for rebel-turned-soldier

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 2, 2022): Reunion with twin bro remains a dream for rebel-turned-soldier (By Che Palicte)

DREAM REUNION. Philippine Army trainee Gelejurain l Alce Nguho sheds tears upon hearing the news that his beloved twin brother Gelejurain lI who joined the communist New People’s Army was killed in an encounter with government forces in Davao de Oro on Feb. 24, 2022. He said in the John Paul Seniel Reports aired online on Tuesday (March 1) that their dream reunion was no longer possible because of his brother's death. (Screengrab photo from John Paul Seniel Reports)

“The pain of losing someone close to your heart is unbearable.”

This was what Gelejurain l Alce Nguho felt after hearing the sad plight of his twin brother Gelejurain ll who was killed in an encounter in Davao de Oro on February 24.

Gelejurain ll was among the five members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who figured in an encounter with state forces in Purok-8, Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro.

He was identified by the military as a former volunteer teacher at the Community Technical College of Southeastern Mindanao, Inc. (CTCSM), allegedly being run by the NPA in Maco, Davao de Oro, before it was shut down in 2020.

In a video posted on the John Paul Seniel Reports on Tuesday, an emotional Gelejurain l could be seen fighting back tears as he was informed of his brother's death while he was training at the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.

“There’s no chance for us to talk and see each other again. This is very painful to me, Gelejurain ll is my best friend, my confidante. We can no longer make new songs and play the guitar,” he said.

He recounted that his entire family was doing everything so Gelejurain ll could come home but various front groups would not make their reunion possible.

“Before his death, we had a misunderstanding because I forced him to surrender. It may be hard but we need to accept his fate,” Gelejurain l said.

NPA members

Gelejurain l admitted that his parents and siblings joined the NPA but only Gelejurain ll refused to surrender and remained in the communist organization.

Gelejurain l along with his girlfriend was captured during an encounter at Barangay Mapula, Paquibato district in this city on November 14, 2020. He is also a scholar of Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Incorporated (MISFI) and a part-time teacher in Haran.

Gelejurain l chose to join the Philippine Army after he was captured by members of the 27th Infantry Battalion.

He admitted that he was forced to join the armed group because it was part of his revolutionary integration.

Besides, he said he has to abide by a five-year service return agreement to teach after being a MISFI scholar at the Liceo de Davao in Tagum City.

“[Our reunion] is no longer possible in our family. Three of our family members already died in an encounter,” he added.

Gelejurain l said it pains him that he was unable to save his twin brother from the communist group.

“I want to say sorry to him. I want him to know that I miss him so much. You are in a safe place now. Look after our family, especially Mama,” he said.

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

The National Democratic Front (NDF) has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168847