Vice President Sara Duterte honored Sgt. Jernell Ramillano, who was killed during an encounter with members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Batangas last Sunday, Dec. 17.
In a video statement posted on her official Facebook page on Thursday, Dec. 21, Durete said Ramillano was among the victims of the brutality of NPA, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF), whom she all called “traitors”.
“Taos puso nating kinikilala at binibigyan ng parangal ang katapangan, kabayanihan, at paglilingkod ni Sgt. Jernell Ramillano,” she remarked.
Duterte extended her condolences to the slain soldier's bereaved family.
“[N]akikidalamhati po ako sa inyo at saludo po ako sa serbisyong ipinamalas ni Jernell sa ating mahal na Pilipinas. Mananatili sya sa puso at isipan ng bawat Pilipino at ang kanyang katapangan at pagmamahal sa bansa ay magsisilbing inspirasyon ng bawat isa sa amin upang mas mapabuti pa ang paglilingkod sa bayan,” she said.
The Vice President warned that more Filipino soldiers may be killed at the hands of the rebels if the government ignored the “traitors”.
“Maraming kabataan din ang hindi makakapagtapos ng pag-aaral kung hahayaan natin silang mabiktima ng mga grupong ito upang gawing armadong terorista,” Duterte added.
She claimed that the rebel groups aimed to destroy the foundation of democracy, overthrow the government, and drag Filipinos into poverty, chaos, and injustice.
“Dili na kita magpatonto sa mga terorista nga sa dugay nga panahon nahimong babag aron atong masinati ang pamuyo nga malinawon ug matagamtaman ang kalambuan sa atong mga komunidad,” the Vice President furthered.
(I will no longer tolerate the terrorists who for a long time have become an obstacle for us to live in peace and enjoy the diversity in our communities.)
On Sunday, Defense Secretary Gilbert ‘Gibo’ Teodoro reported that one soldier and six NPA members died in a clash in the Municipality of Balayan, Batangas.
Three other soldiers sustained injuries.
Batangas governor Hermilando Mandanas earlier told DZRH that the provincial government had provided aid to families affected by the bloody encounter.
