The former managing editor of the Philippine Collegian, the student publication of the University of the Philippines, killed in a clash between the 79th Infantry “Masaligan” Battalion and the New People’s Army in Silay City, Negros Occidental, was the leader of the NPA Northern Negros Front, an Army official said Sunday, August 22.
Killed was Kerima Lorena Tariman-Acosta, alias Ella and Em-em, 42, from Legazpi City, Albay, and a certain “Pabling” whose full identity is yet to be determined, Maj. Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said.
“Kerima is the secretary or leader of the Northern Negros Front who came to Negros with the mindset of reviving the influence of the said front after having been categorized by no less than their own leadership as dismantled for failing to meet party standards,” Pancito said.
“She was there to sow terror and chaos and exploit the Negrenses. She was never a people’s hero. She is the cause of people’s hardship in the area,” he said.
“Kerima Tariman and Pabling no matter who they are in their personal capacity are enemies of the state. They were notorious terrorists operating in Northern Negros, responsible for the series of extortion and intimidation activities. The latest of which was the burning of construction equipment in Silay-EB Magalona in April this year,” Pancito added.
He said the Army is saddened by the death of the two and is also mourning the sacrifice of one of its soldiers, PFC Christopher Alada, 31, of Badiangan, Iloilo, who was killed in the Silay encounter.
Mayor Mark Golez also said Silay City mourns the passing of Alada, a father of two, whom he described as “a great soldier who embodied bravery, selflessness, and heroism.”
The 79thIB was responding to reports from residents of the presence of terrorists conducting extortion and recruitment activities, when the Silay encounter occurred, Pancito said.
The Army’s success at preventing these terrorists from regaining their forces is actually a victory of every Negrense whose desire is to end the communist armed conflict in Negros, he added.
“With this we vow to continue our efforts as our way of also honoring the sacrifice of our comrade PFC Alada who even at his young age had made significant efforts for Negros to achieve that genuine and lasting peace,” Pancito added.
“We together with peace loving Filipinos are calling on the rest of the CPP- NPA fighters to return to the folds of the law. You will never win against the government. You only have two choices – surrender and live a normal life together with you families or be killed in battle with your senseless cause,” he said.
Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, 79IB commanding officer, said he grieves “for lives being sacrificed fighting for a false ideology being peddled by the CPP-NPA terrorists”.
“I am deeply saddened that lives were wasted…because of this senseless revolutionary armed struggle in an attempt to defend a futile ideology,” he said.
He called on the rebels operating in Northern Negros to abandon their “useless revolutionary struggle, lay down their firearms, and chose the path to peace and live peaceful and normal lives with their loved ones.”*