AFTER seven years of being separated from her family, a 24-year-old member of the New People’s Army (NPA) from Lagonglong town in Misamis Oriental finally returned home — but in a casket.
Recruited by the NPA in 2014 at the age of 18, she was killed in a gun battle.
Brenda Serenio, alias ka Cyril, from Sitio Kamansi, Barangay Banglay of the said town, was killed during an encounter against the government troops in the hinterland village of Bal-ason, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, August 13.
The bereaved family of Brenda could not accept that they would only meet Brenda as a cold corpse as she was returned to the house of Mayet Cagalawan, Brenda’s sister, in Barangay Banglay.
Few weeks before the encounter, officials from the Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion and Brenda’s parents met to discuss Brenda’s intent to surrender and leave the communist group.
Her parents said Brenda’s death deserves justice, as her decision to leave the group was unjustly denied by her NPA commanding officer for unknown reasons a few weeks after the encounter.
Accordingly, she could no longer endure the hardships of living in the mountains and the food deprivation she experienced for the last seven years.
Brenda was under Platoon Peking Pequero Hilogon (PPH), Guerrilla Front Huawei, Sub-regional committee 1, NCMRC.
The group, under the command of alias Rebo, apparently resented her plan to leave the movement.
4th Infantry Division public affairs chief Major Rodulfo Cordero issued a warning to the youth to think twice before joining the NPA.
“This would have been a warning to our youth before joining the NPA bandit group. The act was a clear manifestation that the NPA does not recognize human rights," Cordero said adding that the NPA forces are now weakening due to lack of support from the community.
Brenda should have been still alive if her plea was not resented by her NPA commander, according to the family.
Even on the last day of her life, Brenda experienced a miserable death, after her parents received a report that their daughter was abandoned by her own comrades during gunfights.
Brenda wasn’t able to attend any of their family events since she joined the CPP/NPA.
Also, the communist group has not yet issued a statement or even sympathy on their comrade’s death as of this moment.
Brenda’s kin thanked the soldiers and local authorities in the area as the remains were brought in one of the funeral parlors in Gingoog City to give her a decent and proper turn over to the family.
An encounter between government security forces erupted in Barangay Bal-ason, Gingoog City, August 13.
58IB Commander Lt. Col. Ricky Canatoy said the clash broke out when government troops chanced upon some 20 NPA guerrillas.
At the clash site, soldiers recovered Brenda’s body beside her M14 rifle.
Canatoy said the body was abandoned by her comrades as they escaped.
Other items recovered from the site included one landmine, one Signus radio, one solar panel charger, 13 sacks of rice, medical supplies, personal belongings, and subversive documents.
Canatoy said his condolences to the bereaved family adding that another life is wasted and lost for fighting the wrong ideologies of the NPA.
He urged the remaining NPA rebels to lay down their arms, return to the folds of the law, and avail the programs of the government.
"You are always welcome to come to us if you decide to surrender and we will assist you until you avail all the benefits under Enhanced Comprehensive and Local Integration Program (E-CLIP). Likewise, your army will continue its quest in ensuring the safety and security of every individual in the communities," Canatoy added.
The army hopes that Brenda will be the last person who’ll sacrifice life for nothing. (Ben Balce)
