NDF seeks humanitarian corridor for retrieval of student’s body

The National Democratic Front in Mindoro is urging for the opening of a humanitarian corridor to facilitate the retrieval of the remains of a student who was killed during the New Year’s clash in Abra de Ilog, Mindoro, and to find another youth who went missing during the withdrawal.

Ma. Patricia Andal, spokesperson of NDF Mindoro, said in a statement released on Friday that Jerlyn Rose Doydora, reportedly a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education major in English student at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, suffered an attack of her illness which caused her death.

The 203rd Infantry Brigade said that it recovered at the encounter site Doydora’s Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) ATM debit cards, pictures of some youth, an identification card of a certain Stephanie Jhoy Borinaga, 20, resident of Sitio Pagkakaisa, Sucat, Muntinlupa; medical and hygiene kits, personal items, food, and subversive documents.

Andal did not provide the name of the missing student.

According to Andal, Doydora was with a group of youth who went to Mindoro to conduct research, interview, and integrate with the indigenous people and farmers, and with a unit of the New People’s Army (NPA) during the New Year period.

She said the NDF-Mindoro processed their entry after they conveyed their desire to interview the indigenous people and farmers in Mindoro, as well as the NPA, to learn the “concrete conditions of the masses, the reasons for the armed conflict, and the true solution to achieve peace.”

“They arrived in Abra de Ilog before the New Year, assisted by the indigenous people and farmers in the area, and were received by the NPA unit,” Andal stated.

Andal said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) made the “treacherous attack” at around 6:30 a.m. when the NPA was still observing a ceasefire.

She said the NPA unit that accommodated the visiting students was able to mount a defense and was able to retreat safely to distance themselves despite the relentless bombing and strafing by four AFP attack helicopters.

“One youth was separated as the NPA unit was withdrawing from the area and is yet to be located. In the midst of the bombing and strafing, Jerlyn suffered an attack due to her illness that eventually led to her death,” Andal added.

The 203rd Infantry Brigade said it received a report from residents that leaders and members of the NPA were converging in Barangay Cabaca to celebrate the founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines and New Year.

One resident allegedly went to the 76th Infantry Battalion to report the presence of NPA who were armed with M16 rifles. This led the military unit to launch strike operations against the group.

Meanwhile, the AFP clarified that the successive armed encounter on 01 January was a legitimate, intelligence-driven operation against the communist group that was threatening communities with violence.

The AFP said that on 31 December, government troops captured 42 anti-personnel mines and over 100 handmade grenades in Occidental Mindoro.