RETRIEVAL OPS. Army troopers retrieve the remains of a New People’s Army (NPA) combatant identified as Elmer Delarmente Maisog alias “Ebok/Tawtaw" on Monday (Feb. 7, 2022) in Barangay Maraiging, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte. Based on the revelation of a former rebel, Delarmente was killed during the attack on security personnel conducting critical infrastructure and investment protection security operations last Sept. 29, 2021. (Photo courtesy of 29IB)
BUTUAN CITY – Troopers from the Army’s 29th Infantry Battalion (IB) retrieved on Monday the remains of a New People’s Army (NPA) rebel in Barangay Maraiging, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte.
In a statement Tuesday, the 29IB said soldiers recovered the body of Elmer Delarmente Maisog, alias “Ebok/Tawtaw,” the vice commanding officer of the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 16C2 of the NPA Guerrilla Front 16, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
Maisog was a resident of Barangay Bolhoon, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
“The remains of the slain NPA rebel was discovered when another rebel, identified as Alias Dondon, surrendered to this unit on Feb. 5, 2022,” the 29IB said.
During his custodial debriefing, “Dondon” revealed his direct participation in the attack on security personnel conducting critical infrastructure and investment protection security operations last Sept. 29, 2021 in Barangay Maraiging.
The former rebel also told the 29IB that Maisog was killed during the attack and was hurriedly buried in a shallow grave in the area.
“The decomposed cadaver was successfully retrieved with the support of the 1305th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 13 and the local government unit of Jabonga,” the 29IB said.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Jason Saldua, the 29IB commander, was saddened by the death of the NPA rebel, saying his life was wasted by the deceitful beliefs of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the NPA.
“This act is a clear manifestation of how immoral the NPAs’ are, for simply leaving the dead bodies of their comrades, without giving respect to the families of those personalities whose lives were sacrificed in the wrong ideology of the CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front),” Saldua said.
He also recognized the courage of “Dondon” for providing the information that led to the retrieval of the remains of the slain rebel.
“To all others, I plead with you once again to surrender while there is still time. Waging war is never the solution to obtain peace,” Saldua said.
He urged the NPA rebels to avail of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program and start a new life.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The NDF has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973. (PNA)
