DAVAO CITY — Soldiers from the 67th Infantry Battalion (67IB) operating under the 701st Infantry Brigade, discovered and retrieved the cadaver of a slain member of the New People's Army (NPA) at Sitio Paradise, Barangay Santa Juana, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, on Sunday, 31 December.

In a statement on Monday, Maj. Mark Anthony Tito, the spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division (10ID), said the 67IB troops, along with police personnel from the Tagbina Municipal Police Station, immediately turned over the cadaver to the local government unit of Tagbina for proper burial and disposition.

"However, due to the advanced state of decomposition, the identity of the slain NPA cannot be determined," he added.

Tito bared that the body was discovered when the soldiers conducted clearing operations after the encounter between government troops and the NPA belonging to Regional Sentro De Grabidad, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (RSDG, NEMRC), wherein Joedil Cayapos Virtudazo, also known as "Jerby" or "Janjalani," a political officer of the said unit, was neutralized.

According to Lt. Col. Edwin Pia, the 67IB commander, the cadaver was discovered approximately 120 meters away from the encounter site and was left behind by his fleeing comrades.

Meanwhile, BGen. Allan Hambala, the 10ID commander, expressed sorrow for the tragic situation where one of the NPA comrades was left on the battlefield and eventually succumbed to the harsh conditions.

He emphasized the missed opportunity for a peaceful resolution, stating,

"If only they had heeded our call to surrender, their lives would have been saved," Hambala added.