THE Philippine Army has reached out to the families of two dead suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) for the decent burials of the cadavers in Barangay Palanit, San Isidro, Northern Samar.
The dead body of Gregorio Temor Loberiano, alias Bigaw, was claimed by his family from Calbayog City while no family member has surfaced to identify the other remaining cadaver, as of Saturday, August 28, 2021.
Lieutenant Manuel Degay, commanding officer of the 43 Infantry Battalion, said they facilitated the transportation of Loberiano’s cadaver to Calbayog.
The Army and the local government unit offered a mass service at Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Church of San Isidro and a decent burial to the unidentified body at the town’s public cemetery.
Degay continued to call on the rebel members to “go back to the folds of the law and avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the government and start a new life with their loved ones.”
The two rebels were killed during the encounter with government forces at Barangay Palanit on August 21, 2021.
About 20 rebels engaged in a 15-minute firefight with the army troopers during the incident which also resulted in the death of Corporal Jason Avestruz.
Several guns, ammunition, personal belongings and war materials were also seized during the encounter. (SunStar Philippines)