The Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry “Masaligan” Battalion joined the family of late Private First Class Christopher Alada as he was laid to rest at the Brgy Badiangan Public Cemetery in Iloilo on Saturday, September 11.
Alada and two rebels were killed in an encounter between 79IB soldiers and New People’s Army rebels in Brgy. Raymunda, Silay City, on August 20.
A gun salute was also held at his burial and the Philippine Flag was given to his wife, Kaye, in honor of his committed and dedicated service to the Philippine Army and country, Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, 79IB commander, said.
“We condole with the family of late PFC Alada. On behalf of 79IB and the whole Philippine Army, we salute you for your patriotism and heroism. Rest assured that your sacrifices will never be in vain as we vow to be more relentless in our effort to end the local armed conflict in Northern Negros,” Javines said.
Javines said they also buried alias Pabling, one of two rebels killed in the encounter at the Silay City public cemetery Saturday morning.
The 79th IB, and the Silay police and local government, gave alias Pabling a decent burial after he was abandoned by his fleeing NPA comrades.
“The burial was arranged after none of the relatives or family members of alias Pabling have turned up to claim his cadaver despite relentless information dissemination. Only the cadaver of a female combatant identified as Kerima Lorena Tariman alias Ella was claimed by her family”, Javines said.*