BACOLOD CITY – The families of six New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed in a clash with the military last week in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental received financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Western Visayas on Monday, September 25.
Each family received P10,000 at the Kabankalan City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in the presence of Mayor Benjie Miranda and 1st Lt. Charmaine Sancho, civil-military operations (CMO) officer of the Army 47th Infantry Battalion (IB).
THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Western Visayas extends cash assistance to the families of six members of the New People’s Army (NPA) killed in a clash with the military in Barangay Tabugon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental last week in the presence of 1st Lt. Charmaine Sancho, civil-military operations (CMO) officer of the Army 47th Infantry Battalion (IB), on Monday, September 25. (Photo courtesy of 47th IB)
Aside from cash assistance, the DSWD-Western Visayas also shouldered the funeral expenses of the casualties.
The local government units (LGUs) where the casualties reside also provided burial assistance to their families.
Killed in the September 21 clash in Purok Lubi, Barangay Tabugon were members of the Samahang Yunit Propaganda (SYP), Southwest Front (SWF)-Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (KR-NCBS) led by Alejo delos Reyes, alias “Peter” and “Bravo,” squad leader of Squad 2 of SYP Platoon 3; his wife Melissa dela Peña, alias “Diane”; Bobby Pedro, alias “Recoy,” vice squad leader of Squad 3, SYP Platoon 3; Mario Fajardo Mullon, alias “Reco” or “Goring," medic of Squad 1, SYP Platoon 3; Janice Flores, a medic, and Ruben Gaitan.
Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, head of the 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO), clarified the names of the two fatalities on Wednesday, September 27.
Javines said that Flores was identified by her family as Janesa Malasabas Romano while Delos Reyes was identified as Pedro Pillar Jabalde.
He said that the 47th IB will contact Jabalde’s family to turnover financial assistance since they already returned home in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
The Army also clarified that a certain Marjon Alvior, alias “Kenneth,” an alleged vice squad leader of Squad 2, SYP Platoon 3, was not one of the fatalities in the encounter.