THE Army’s 15th Infantry (Molave Warrior) Battalion (15IB), together with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the local government unit (LGU) of Hinoba-an provided decent burial to New People's Army (NPA) rebels who died during the recent encounter in Hinoba-an.
Alias Michael/Nonoy and alias Ken-Ken were laid to rest at the public cemetery in Barangay 2, Poblacion, Hinoba-an on April 20.
The families failed to claim the cadavers of the dead NPAs after a three day waiting period given by the LGU.
"The local government unit of Hinoba-an together with 15IB and PNP spent money, time and effort to provide them decent burial. Together, we sent them to their final rest with respect as humans and as Filipinos," said Hinobaan Mayor Ernesto Estrao.
"I hope that this tragedy will serve as a lesson to our countrymen who joined the revolutionary movement. As the mayor of this town, I condemn the presence of these terrorist groups in my municipality for they brought nothing but fears, worries, and chaos to my people," Estrao added.
15IB Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Erwin Cariño was saddened that no family claimed nor attended the funeral of the deceased NPA terrorists.
"This is how they treat the two NPAs whom they claimed as their comrades? They even issued a press statement to proudly honor their death, but their statement is always in contrast with their action. They abandoned their comrades like dead rats.
These commuinist-terrorists have only proved and showed their true nature as a cold-blooded organization. We strongly condemn this kind of inhumane treatment. This is not tolerated nor accepted in our society, especially in our culture as Filipinos," Cariño said.
"May this tragedy serve as a reflection and lesson to everyone not to be deceived by the lies and propaganda of the terrorist movement. Now, we have seen how they exist and live as an organization, warranted by their lies and faulty promises. Let us be wary of these deceitful schemes," Cariño added.