DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug. 16 (PIA) -- Children whose parents were killed by suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) on May 14 in Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan City have received a cash assistance of P50,000 from a Cebu-based private group on Aug. 11.

The financial grant from the proceeds of “Heroes Adventure Challenge” was turned over by Chief Petty Officer Renault Lao PN (Res), a volunteer Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reservist and co-owner of Bikes and Brews to the orphaned children in Guihulngan City.

In partnership with the Headquarters Central Command, AFP through the 3rd Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service, AFP in Cebu City, and 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion, 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, Philippine Army, the Guihulngan City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (GCTF-ELCAC) assisted the orphaned children whose parents were killed by Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT) members. 

According to acting Civil Military Operations Officer of 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion 1Lt. Roselyn Balean, on May 14, the Leonardo Panaligan Command-New People’s Army (LPC-NPA) in Central Negros murdered four civilians at Sitio Agit, Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan City.

The victims were, namely, Ronelo Quirante, Roger Fat, Rodrigo Lubay, and his wife Celerina Lubay.

Rebels used to seek refuge with the said victims whenever they hid from military and police operations and also provided food and other logistical support to the armed group, said Balean.

However, they were suspected by the CTG as government informants who were accordingly instruments to the major setback they suffered during the encounter in the area on March 23, which resulted to the neutralization of 10 LPC-NPA personalities, the rescue of one child warrior, and capture of 11 high-powered firearms including an M60 machine gun.

“This incident will not be a hindrance to achieve the dreams of the orphaned children. We are happy to help people in need especially the victims of NPA atrocities,” Lao said.

The Bikes and Brews, together with the ACTIVEHUB Fitness Center and Smarties, are the organizers of the “Heroes Adventure Challenge,” a virtual three-leg multi-sporting event that started in July and will end in November 2021. 

The first leg opened on July 10 until Aug. 10, and features three events, namely, Run, Bike Distance, and Bike Elevation, to raise funds to support the scholarship for children affected by the armed conflict in Guihulngan City.

For his part, Guihulngan Mayor Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes thanked the donors for their assistance to the orphaned children.

Reyes said the city government will also provide livelihood assistance, housing, and scholarship program to the children.

Commanding Officer of 62 IB Lt Col. Melvin Flores called on the residents to continue to be vigilant and report any presence of armed NPA members in their area.

“This is to prevent the same fate that happened in Brgy. Trinidad. Let us all continue in condemning the human rights violations and stop the Communist NPA Terrorists' violence and atrocities," said Flores. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from 62nd Infantry Battalion)