Army asks slain rebels’ kin to claim bodies from police in Bukidnon town

ILIGAN CITY—The Philippine Army has asked relatives of five New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas slain in a clash in Tagoloan town, Lanao del Sur province to claim the rebels’ bodies from police in the town of Talakag, Bukidnon province.

Brig. Gen. Ferdinand Barandon, commander of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade, said only two of the bodies had been claimed so far.

One was identified as Christopher A. Himalao, 40, of Balingasag town, Misamis Oriental. His body was claimed by his stepfather last Feb. 5, said Barandon.

On the same day, Barandon added, the body of Aida Panganlagan, of San Fernando town, Bukidnon, was claimed by her sister.

The other three slain guerrillas have yet to be identified, Barandon said.

If not claimed in the next few days, Barandon said the military would just give the guerrillas a decent burial in Talakag.

The five rebels were killed in a two-hour clash with soldiers of the Army’s 1st Special Forces Battalion last Feb. 2, at the village of Gayakay near the mountain boundary of Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur provinces.

The soldiers seized three M-16 rifles, two caliber .30 Garand rifles and an M-14 rifle after the clash.

TSB