STANDING GUARD. Members of the 47th Infantry Battalion (IB) guard the remains of a New People’s Army (NPA) rebel who was killed in an encounter in Siaton, Negros Oriental. The remains of Wilbert Fuentes also known as Ka MJ was turned over to the fatality’s family in Trinidad town on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021.
The Philippine Army’s 47th Infantry Battalion (IB) in cooperation with the provincial government of Bohol and the local government unit of Trinidad turned over the remains of a New People’s Army (NPA) rebel who died in an encounter in Negros Oriental.
The turnover rites happened on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, a report from the 47th IB says.
The rebel is identified as Wilbert Fuentes also known as Ka MJ. He was a member of the Southeast Front, Kometeng Rehiyon Negros, Bohol, Cebu and Siquijor (SEF-KR-NBCS).
According to reports, the communist rebel was killed in an encounter with the 11th IB in barangay Tayak, Siaton, Negros Oriental on Dec. 24, 2020. His remains were abandoned by his comrades in the encounter site.
After determining his identity, the 11th IB coordinated with the 47th IB for the repatriation of the fatality’s body to his family in barangay San Vicente, Trinidad town.
The fatality’s mother told the Army that all the while the family thought Ka MJ was in Cebu working. She added that she and the rest of the family were shocked upon learning about Ka MJ’s fate.
Despite the sorrow, the family of Ka MJ is grateful for the assistance of the Army in the repatriation and the financial assistance coming from the local government unit of Trinidad, the same report from the 47th IB bares.