Slain rebel receives decent burial from gov't troops, LGU
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur -- The government troops of the 36th Infantry “Valor” Battalion facilitated the descent burial of the remains of a member of the communist terrorist group (CTG) who was unluckily killed in the recent encounter in Barangay Maticdum, Tandag City.
Authorities identified the slain rebel as Dexter Salazar Maca alias Jeric, 37 years old and a resident of Barangay Buenavista, Tandag City.
In a report of the 36IB Civil-Military Operations chief, Capt. Reyzander
Ga, revealed that the troops of the 36IB retrieved the remains of the
killed CTG member from the location of the encounter and decently turned them
over to the family and relatives, with the support of the provincial government
of Surigao del Sur, headed by the chair of the Regional/Provincial Peace and
Order Council (R/PPOC), Governor Alexander Pimentel.
The city government of Tandag reportedly shouldered all the expenses associated
with the funeral services and subsequent interment, the army official
confirmed.
The family of Maca was grateful to the troops for retrieving the body and for
giving the dead with utmost respect.
The mother of Maca expressed, “Sir, kami nagpasalamat sa inyo mga kasundaluhan
nga inyong gikuha ang patay nga lawas niya ug nabalik gayud sa amoa bisan layo
kaayo mi. Daghang salamat Sir, (Sir, we thank your soldiers for retrieving his
dead body and for returning to us, even though we are so far. Thank you very
much Sir)."
36IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Vincent M Viray said that, “despite being an
enemy of the state, were saddened and grieved together with the family of the
dead CTG who was only a victim of CNT’s misplaced and wrong ideology.”
"We ensure that the integrity of the cadaver is well taken care of. We are
calling to the remaining CNTs who are out there to surrender peacefully and
preserve their life. There is so much more to enjoy outside than hiding in the
wrong group. The government is here to support you if you ever change your mind
and decide to surrender,” Lt. Col. Viray noted.
Meanwhile, Indigneous Peoples Municipal Representative (IPMR) Datu Rico Maca of
San Miguel, Surigao del Sur posted in his social media account and called the
remaining members of the new people's army (NPA) to surrender. He further
mentioned a certain Joel Maca Mahinay alias Nico of Guerilla Front 30, to
hopefully return to the folds of the government.
The IPMR strongly condemned the NPA for recruiting the IPs. “I, along with my
family, strongly condemn the NPA for continuously deceiving and recruiting the
IPs," he stated. (NGPB/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
