The Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry (Masaligan) Battalion and 12th Infantry Battalion accorded military honors to Corporal Biencent John Trero and Private Cesar Ian Eleuterio on the arrival of their cadavers at the Bacolod-Silay Airport and Roxas City Airport via an NC212i aircraft of the Philippine Air Force from Cebu City on Saturday, November 6.
Trero and Eleuterio were killed during an encounter with New People’s Army rebels in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, on November 3.
The cadaver of Trero was transported to his family in Barangay To-uy, Himamaylan City, while Eleuterio was brought to his residence in Brgy. Jaena Norte, Jamindan, Capiz.
Four other soldiers were also wounded in the encounter. They are now recuperating at a hospital in Cebu City.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the bereaved families of the departed comrades. Both will be given full military honors befitting of a hero during their wake and on the internment,” Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, 79th IB commander, said.
“We will not let this incident dampen our spirit but rather serve as a motivation and inspiration for us to do our best and strive even harder to accomplish our mission. We shall not let their sacrifices go in vain as we vow to be more relentless in our peace and development effort to end the local armed conflict not only in Moises Padilla but in Negros Occidental as a whole,” he added.
DISPLACED FAMILIES
The residents of Moises Padilla who were displaced following the encounter have returned to their homes in Barangay Quintin Remo Saturday, November 6, the municipal government announced.
It said that the Philippine Army has already given a go signal to the affected families that it is safe to go home.
Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, who led the distribution of family food packs and medicines to more than 1,000 evacuees in Nacuruhan Elementary School on Friday, November 5.
In her dialog with the residents, she lamented the armed encounter, saying that the victims of such conflicts are always civilians and children.*