TACLOBAN CITY– The military in Eastern Visayas has confirmed that one of the casualties during an encounter in Catarman, Northern Samar was the secretary general of Bayan- Eastern Visayas.
The identity of Joshua Sagdullas was made possible through the assistance of a former rebel now in their custody, the 8th Infantry Division, based in Catbalogan City, Samar said in a press statement issued Wednesday night.
“Alias Kurati, a former rebel who operated in the area positively identified the cadaver of Joshua Sagdullas alias Miyong/Martin, the secretary general of Bayan Eastern Visayas…as one of the casualties,” it said.
Aside from Sagdullas, who said to held the post as a political instructor of the New People’s Army(NPA) in Northern Samar, the dead rebels were also identified by Kurati as Geraldine Teopinto alias Luz, the finance officer; Abigail Baselga alias Moana, medical officer; and Vicente Termo.
The rebels were killed in a clash with the military during an encounter last Sunday (May 28) in Barangay Mabini, 37.8 kms away from the town center of Catarman.
The government troop also recovered several firearms during the encounter.
The cadavers of the rebels were provided with caskets by the municipal government of Catarman upon the order of Mayor Francisco Aurelio Rosales III.
Of the four cadavers, the family of Termo claimed his remains on Tuesday (May 30).
Mayor Rosales said that the families of the dead have only until Friday (June 2) to claim the remains of the remaining cadavers.
Unless claimed, they will be buried at the Catarman public cemetery.
Major General Camilo Ligayo, the commanding general of the 8th ID, expressed his sadness on the death of the four NPA rebels, fighting for what he described as ‘senseless ideology.’
“Another life has been lost in the war against the senseless ideology of the communist terrorist group. Let us put an end to this way of life of constant struggle and fear,” he said in a statement.
“The door is still open for those who want to surrender and live a better and more peaceful life,” Ligayo added.
Ligayo earlier said that he sees the end of the existence of the communist armed movement Eastern Visayas within the year, adding that the communist has only armed fronts operating in Northern Samar, said to be the last bastion of communist insurgency of the region.
For his part, Tacloban City Mayor and chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council Alfred Romualdez also expressed his condolences to the families of the dead rebels.
“I feel sad for the families and for those who are still with the (armed) movement, think about your families. I hope this will stop and end very soon,” he said in a statement issued through the 8ID’s public affairs office.
(JOEY A.GABIETA/ROBERT DEJON)
