The soldier, who was killed in an encounter between government troopers and the New People's Army (NPA) at Hacienda Raymunda in Silay City last August 20, was laid to rest in his hometown in Badiangan town Public Cemetery in Iloilo on Saturday, September 11.
Private First Class Christopher Alada was accorded with a 21-gun salute by the 79th Infantry "Masaligan" Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army during his burial.
A Philippine Flag was also given to his wife, Kaye, in honor of his committed and dedicated service to the Army and the country, the 79th IB said in a press statement.
"We condole with the family of the late Private First Class Alada. On behalf of the 79th IB and the whole Philippine Army, we salute you for your patriotism and heroism," Lieutenant Colonel J-Jay Javines, commanding officer of 79th IB, said yesterday.
He added that "rest assured that your sacrifices will never be put in vain as we vow to be more relentless in our effort to end the local armed conflict in Northern Negros."
Meanwhile, the slain NPA, who died along with Alada, was also buried on Saturday, September 11 at the Silay Public Cemetery.
The 79th IB, Silay City Police Station and Silay City Government have given a decent burial to alias Pabling, one of the two NPA rebels killed and whose bodies were retrieved by the troops at the clash site.
The two rebels were abandoned by their comrades who fled during the encounter.
Javines said that the burial was arranged after no relatives nor family members of the slain rebel claimed his body.
Only the body of a female combatant identified as Kerima Lorena Tariman “alias Ella” was claimed by her family".
"Unlike the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) who just leave their dead comrade behind, your Philippine Army will always respect everybody's right to a decent burial,” Javines said.
“Alias Pabling died fighting for a wrong cause, but still, he is a fellow Filipino that deserves respect and humane treatment. We thank Mayor Mark Andrew Arthur Golez of Silay City for his support in order that this effort will be materialized,” he said.
The army official said the incident should serve as a caveat to the remaining CNTs to abandon the armed struggle, lay down their arms and choose the path towards peace for sooner or later the long arms of justice will come unto them and they might suffer the same fate as those rebels who died in the encounter and were later abandoned. (TDE)