ILOILO CITY – The Philippine Army 61st Infantry Battalion (IB) extended cash assistance to the family of a New People’s Army (NPA) killed in an encounter in Iloilo earlier this month.
Lt. Col. Arturo Balgos Jr., 61st IB acting commander, met the family of the slain rebel Rebecca Aliparo in her hometown Tigbauan.
In the presence of Tigbauan Mayor Virgillo Teruel, Balgos handed over cash assistance to Aliparo’s family.
Aliparo, alias “Mara,” was killed in a firefight with the 61st IB in Leon, Iloilo on August 13.
An Army intelligence report said Aliparo was the political instructor and finance officer of the NPA Southern Front Committee in Panay Island.
“Kailanman po ay hindi kami nasisiyahan na may kababayan tayong namamatay sa isang engkwentro. Ang mga pangyayaring ito ay hindi natin maiiwasan sa pagganap ng aming tungkulin na wakasan na ang matagal ng salot ng ating bayan (We are saddened every time a Filipino is killed in an encounter. But we cannot avoid these as we fulfill our duties to end communist insurgency),” said Balgos in a statement.