BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – The Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion has turned over a two-month-old infant to the social welfare office in the neighboring city of Talisay after rebels fleeing government soldiers left the baby behind in Talisay’s upland village of San Fernando.
Army First Lt. Norman Sorila, civil military operations officer of the 79th Infantry Battalion, reported that the infant was left behind as a result of their security patrol at hacienda Ambulog in the upland village of San Fernando.
Sorila said they conducted the patrol after receiving reports that rebels were in the area.
He added that while soldiers were approaching a particular house, two rebels “hastily escaped” and left behind the baby, valuables, subversive documents, and electronic gadgets.
The owner of the house told soldiers a certain Ka Jandy, the mother of the infant, decided to leave the baby upon fleeing.
“Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Alvaran, Commanding Officer of 79IB extended his gratitude to the people who gave the information about the presence of the (Communist NPA Terrorists),” the news release added.
“Your continuous support by way of relaying an information about the presence of these rebels, contributes a lot in our fight against insurgency.”
I urged Ka Jandy as well as the rest of the CNTs to lay down their arms, abandon the pointless armed struggle, return to the folds of the law and start a new life with their families. The government is willing to help them start anew, Alvaran added.
