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Troops bring remains of slain NPA to kin in Dipolog

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.

September 24, 2020, 7:51 pm

<p><strong>SLAIN REBEL</strong>. Military personnel bring Wednesday (September 23, 2020) the remains of communist New People's Army rebel Bernie Nuñez to his family in Barangay Sinaman, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte. Nuñez was killed in a firefight with government forces Monday (September 21, 2020) in Barangay Marangan, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur. <em>(Photo courtesy of the Army's 53rd Infantry Battalion)</em></p>

SLAIN REBEL. Military personnel bring Wednesday (September 23, 2020) the remains of communist New People's Army rebel Bernie Nuñez to his family in Barangay Sinaman, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte. Nuñez was killed in a firefight with government forces Monday (September 21, 2020) in Barangay Marangan, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur. (Photo courtesy of the Army's 53rd Infantry Battalion)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government authorities delivered the remains of a slain communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebel to his family in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte Wednesday, two days after he was killed in a firefight.

Bernie Nuñez, a member of the NPA's Main Regional Guerrilla Unit (MRGU) of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC), was killed in a clash Monday with the Army's 53rd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Marangan, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur.

Military personnel brought his remains to his family in Barangay Sinaman, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera, 53IB commander, said Thursday.

Nuñez’s father, Ricardo, condemned the NPA recruitment of his son, saying he did not know his son had joined the rebels.

“What we only know is that he works in Manila after my wife, his mother, died in 2016. We did not hear from him since 2017,” Ricardo said as quoted by the 53IB in the dialect as saying. “We are poor, but I believe it is not a reason for him to join the NPA's terroristic activities."

Nuñez's funeral expenses were shouldered by the Dumingag Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) chaired by Mayor Joan Abejuela as well as by Dipolog City TF-ELCAC, chaired by Mayor Darel Dexter Uy.

Herrera thanked the local officials for their assistance.

“Our humanity and professionalism do not stop even after our enemy is dead. Even though they’re dead, we still pay them respect,” Herrera said. “The 53rd IB is grateful not just for the support of these TF-ELCAC chairpersons, but also for their warm hearts and kindness."

The burial of Nuñez is scheduled for Friday.

Herrera said has coordinated with Dumingag and Dipolog City local governments for possible financial assistance for the rebel's family. (PNA)

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