By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) and the 12th IB rendered military honors to two soldiers who were killed in a clash with the New People’s Army (NPA) at Sitio Tiyos, Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental on Nov. 3, 2021.
The remains of Corporal Biencent John Trero and Private Cesar Ian Eleuterio arrived at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City and Roxas City Airport via NC212i aircraft of the Philippine Air Force from Cebu City on Saturday, Nov. 6.
Trero’s remains were then transported to his family in Barangay To-uy, Himamaylan, City, while the cadaver of Eleuterio was brought to his residence in Barangay Jaena Norte, Jamindan, Capiz.
Both soldiers were among the military troopers who prevented an alleged attack of the NPA rebels in the boundary of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
Four of their colleagues were also wounded in the firefight but are already in stable condition in a private hospital in Cebu City.
Lieutenant Colonel J-jay Javines, 79th IB commander, condoled with the families of the fallen soldiers.
“We will not let this incident dampen our spirit but rather serve as a motivation and ispiration for us to do our best and strive even harder to accomplish our mission,” Javines said in a statement.
Javines said they shall not let their sacrifices go in vain as they vow to be more relentless in peace and development efforts to end the local armed conflict not only in Moises Padilla town but in the province.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), said the 145 families composed of 834 individuals affected by the clash were already advised by the Army to return to their respective homes last Thursday.
