By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The local government unit (LGU) of Mabinay in Negros Oriental and the Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion (IB) on Sunday extended financial assistance of P25,000 to one of the five slain New People’s Army (NPA) members.
According to Captain Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID), the family of Isaias Ravilista Sr., received P15,000 from the LGU represented by Ricky Genel and the livelihood branch staff of Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD-Mabinay).
Another P10,000 was given by Lieutenant Colonel Ramir Redosendo, 11th IB commander.
The LGU through Mayor Joeterry Uy also provided essential goods to the family.
Ravilista, who was buried Sunday, was killed in an encounter, along with four other rebels, at Barangay Luyang, Mabinay town on June 18.
The clash happened as military troopers and the police were about to arrest Ravilista for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Law against him.
The municipal government also expressed its gratitude to the Army for preserving the peace and order in the town and to the neighboring areas.
Redosendo, in a statement, expressed its deepest sympathies to the family of the slain rebel.
He said that it was a very unfortunate incident, adding that Ravilista was “only one of the many victims of deception of the Communist Terrorists Groups (CTGs).”
“We do not want you to suffer the same fate that had happened to your peers. Lay down your arms, surrender yourselves, and avail the government’s reintegration program,” Redosendo said.