ILIGAN CITY – The military rescued a communist rebel who was left to die by his comrades in Barangay Pigsalohan, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental.
The Army 58th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the 4th Infantry Division (ID), in a report on Saturday, Oct. 29, identified the combatant as Jerry Bilohan, a member of the dismantled Guerilla Front Huawei of the New People’s Army (NPA).
A resident of Purok 2-A, Lower Barangay Pigsalohan reported to the 58th IB troops that Bilohan, who was wounded in the shoulder, was found lying on the banks of the Antayo River.
Bilohan claimed that following pursuit operations by the 58th IB, he was left behind by his fleeing comrades who gave him P3,000.
He said that he felt abandoned and betrayed after serving the NPA for many years.
The series of pursuit operations by the 58th IB was part of the intensive campaign against the remaining NPA forces in Misamis Oriental.
Two NPA rebels were killed in a previous encounter.
Lt. Col. Christian Uy, 58th IB commander, said residents cooperate with the Army in anti-insurgency efforts.
“Again, I am calling the remaining members of communist groups to come down in peace, if you don’t want the same fate to happen to you. Given only an amount of P3,000 in exchange for your life? Think about it,” he said in a statement.
Bilohan was transported to the Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital in Gingoog City.
“We will always value human lives and will always uphold human rights," Uy said. (with a report from PNA)