Robert C. Dejon | June 14, 2022
The 20th Infantry (We Lead) Battalion of the Philippine Army and the local officials of the Municipality of Palapag gave a decent burial to a member of the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) who was abandoned by his comrades after a recent crossfire against state forces.
The rebel was identified as Geronimo Javier. He was killed during a 20-minute crossfire between state forces and CNTs last May 25 in the vicinity of Sitio Cag-anibong, Brgy. Bagacay, Palapag, Northern Samar.
The slain rebel was with around ten (10) other members of the CNT when they encountered elements of the 83DRC, wounded and killed during the crossfire and was left by his comrades. The 20thIB retrieved the cadaver of Javier and coordinated with the barangay officials to bring the casualty to the Palapag Rural Health Unit (RHU-Palapag) for post mortem examinations.
Through the coordination of the town officials of Palapag and the 20thIB, the casualty was turned over to his family and was provided a decent wake at Barangay Cabariwan in Palapag.
20thIB Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Joemar N Buban expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and vowed to provide assistance to the family for a proper burial. Buban explained that even if Javier was an enemy of the state when he died, he still deserve a decent wake and burial. “A life that is lost, either of our soldiers or of the enemies is heartbreaking. But this could have been prevented if these CNTs heed our call for them to return to the folds of the law.”
The battalion also assured to extend other assistance to the bereaved family in such that they live peacefully and away from the deceptions of the CNTs.
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