By Nanette Guadalquiver
In Bacolod City, the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army has pledged educational support to the children left behind by the deceased members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Occidental. Among those killed in a recent series of clashes in Sitio Mansulao, Barangay Pinapugasan, Escalante City on Feb. 21 was Jose Caramihan, who had previously been part of an anti-crime volunteer group before joining the NPA’s Northern Negros Front.
Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Calaoagan, commander of the 79IB, personally visited Susan, Caramihan’s wife, and their three daughters at the barangay hall to offer his condolences. During the visit, he assured them of the battalion’s commitment to providing assistance to ensure the children’s education is not disrupted.
Capt. Dan Carlo Samoza, civil-military operations officer of 79IB, said Wednesday that the Caramihan family accepted the support of their unit and also assured their cooperation with the government forces.
“We have ongoing assistance to them, and we will keep on assisting them,” he said in an interview.
Among the three daughters, two are still minors who are junior high school students.
Samoza said the 79IB will assist the family in securing various forms of assistance, such as educational scholarships for all the children.
The Philippine Army is providing assistance for their basic needs in partnership with the city government and other stakeholders, he added.
In a statement, Calaogan said he told the Caramihan family that the government troops are not enemies and are offering assistance to them.
“May we all stand in one voice to prevent another tragic story like this. Let us all make a resilient community that will protect and preserve the sanctity of life and the very basic foundation of society, the family,” he said.
The two others killed along with Caramihan were Emaryn “Jandie” Pastedio and Christopher “Michael” Ebarle, recruited by the NPA as child warriors several years back. (PNA)
