Families of slain rebels receive government aid

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The families of three of the seven New People’s Army (NPA) members killed in a series of encounters in Iloilo province received financial assistance from their respective local government units on August 12.

The families of Jovelyn Silverio and Jielmor Gauranoc, both from Antique province, were given P10,000 each by the Antique provincial government.

Margie Gadian, consultant for the Antique Peace and Order and Public Security (POPS), along with 61st Infantry Battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Arturo Burgos Jr., handed the cash aid to Jonah Alonsagay, Silverio’s sister, and Sabeniana Gauranoc, Gauranoc’s mother.

Both NPA members were killed in an encounter with government troops on August 8 in Barangay Aglonok, Calinog, Iloilo.

Silverio, a resident of Barangay Patria, Pandan, Antique, was a member of the NPA Regional Sentro De-Gravidad (RSDG)’s Madia-as Platoon.

At the time of her death, she served as the Platoon Supply Officer, RHQF, KR-Panay.

She had previously held the roles of Platoon Political Officer of the RSDG Madia-as Platoon of the dismantled Southern Panay Front and Political Officer of the Sibat Platoon, Southern Front (dismantled), KR-Panay.

Known as the “party wife” of Erber Buencuchillo, Silverio was among the heavily armed NPAs who raided the Maasin Police Station in Iloilo province and stole several firearms in June 2017.

Gauranoc, 37, from Barangay Aras-asan, Sebaste, Antique, was also a member of the RSDG, KR-Panay.

He previously served in Squad 1, Southern Panay Front (dismantled), KR-Panay; Gaisano Squad, SPF, KR-Panay; Mazda Squad, Suzuki (SYP) Platoon, SPF, KR-Panay; and Team 2, Squad 1, Suyak (SDG) Platoon, SPF, KR-Panay.

Meanwhile, Jeralyn Cabanting, the stepdaughter of Jose Jerry Tacaisan, received P30,000 from the Iloilo provincial government.

Tacaisan, a resident of Barangay Bucari, Leon, was killed in a clash with combined troops of the 61st, 12th, and 82nd Infantry Battalions in Barangay Cabatangan, Lambunao, on August 7.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., along with Provincial Administrator Raul Bañas, Rani Melvi Carte of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), and 1st Lieutenant Mark A. Dalayap, Civil-Military Operations Officer of the 61st IB, handed over the financial aid to Cabanting.

In addition to the cash assistance, Tacaisan’s family also received food aid from the Iloilo provincial government, facilitated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office 6.

The encounters on August 5, 7, and 8 resulted in the deaths of four other NPA members.