REACHING OUT. Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan (right), commander of the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion, meets with the members of the Caramihan family and officials of Barangay Pinapugasan, Escalante City in Negros Occidental, after the series of armed encounters in the village last month. On Wednesday (March 20, 2024), Capt. Dan Carlo Samoza, civil-military operations officer of 79IB, said they have ongoing assistance to the family and will assist them in securing various forms of assistance, such as educational scholarships for all the children. (Photo courtesy of 79th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army)
BACOLOD CITY – The Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) has assured the children of the slain remnant of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Occidental of educational assistance for them to finish school.
Jose Caramihan, a member of an anti-crime volunteer group before joining the NPA Northern Negros Front, was among the three rebels killed during the series of encounters in Sitio Mansulao, Barangay Pinapugasan, Escalante City, on Feb. 21.
Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, commander of 79IB, recently visited Caramihan’s wife Susan and their three daughters at the barangay hall to extend his sympathies.
Capt. Dan Carlo Samoza, civil-military operations officer of 79IB, said Wednesday that the Caramihan family accepted the support of their unit and also assured their cooperation with the government forces.
“We have ongoing assistance to them, and we will keep on assisting them,” he said in an interview.
Among the three daughters, two are still minors who are junior high school students.
Samoza said the 79IB will assist the family in securing various forms of assistance, such as educational scholarships for all the children.
The Philippine Army is providing assistance for their basic needs in partnership with the city government and other stakeholders, he added.
In a statement, Calaogan said he told the Caramihan family that the government troops are not enemies and are offering assistance to them.
“May we all stand in one voice to prevent another tragic story like this. Let us all make a resilient community that will protect and preserve the sanctity of life and the very basic foundation of society, the family,” he said.
The two others killed along with Caramihan were Emaryn “Jandie” Pastedio and Christopher “Michael” Ebarle, recruited by the NPA as child warriors several years back. (PNA)
