The Army’s 94th Infantry (Mandirigma) Battalion, in collaboration with the Himamaylan City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, gave a slain New People’s Army (NPA) rebel a dignified burial Monday morning, the 303rd Infantry Brigade reported Tuesday, July 11.
The alleged rebel was killed in one of the encounters between the NPA fighters and the 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers in Himamaylan City on July 7.
Former rebels identified him as Chan/Bambam, as he had a tattoo on his right arm, the 303IB reported.
Lt. Col. Van Donald L. Almonte, 94th Infantry (Mandirigma) Battalion commanding officer, said the slain rebel was one of several believed to have been critically wounded during the July 7 Himamaylan encounters.
“Consequently, his comrades abandoned him to avoid slowing down their escape from pursuing military troops, the 303IB report said.
Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd IB commander, criticized the Communist rebels for abandoning their injured comrade that resulted to his death.*