Kin of La Castellana massacre victims get scholarships

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Dependents of the victims in a massacre in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, last January were given 4-year college scholarship awards on Tuesday, June 11.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the provincial government of Negros Occidental said this was the least they could do for the survivors of the indiscriminate killings committed by the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

Col. Jon Aying, commander of the 303^rd Infantry Brigade, said this is in response to the call for help of the surviving families of the massacre victims.

The 7 scholars are Bhemverly and Mary Lyn Complesa, Cyrus Canja Dingcong, Glenn and Genisses Tamayor, and Dexter and Dena Dimafilez.

Gov Alfredo Marañon Jr and the AFP presented the scholars at the flag raising ceremony at the provincial capitol grounds in Bacolod City.

In January in Barangay Puso, La Castellana, communist guerrillas ambushed and massacred PO1 Richard Canja; civilians Virginia Ordonez, Ricky Dingcong, and Lito Lucban; barangay tanods Mario Ricablanca and Teotimo Esplegera of Barangay Puso; and BPAT (Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team) members Ulysses Tamayor, Jonathan Mateo, and Ramir Complesa.

Ten other people were injured in the incident.

The NPA’s Leonardo Panaligan Command claimed responsibility for the incident. It apologized for the deaths of civilians, and said they only intended to disarm policemen and BPAT members.

Murder charges have been filed against the NPA members behind the massacre. – Rappler.com