Lawmaker’s daughter slain in encounter
MANILA, Philippines — The youngest daughter of Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Campos Cullamat was killed in an encounter between government security forces and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur over the weekend.
Jevilyn Cullamat, 22, alias “Ka Reb,” reportedly died after she and the suspected NPA rebels figured in a 45-minute firefight with soldiers in Barangay San Isidro on Saturday.
The identity of Cullamat was confirmed by nine former rebels, according to 1/Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan, civil military operations officer of the Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion.
Cullamat, who served as medical officer, allegedly belonged to the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda Platoon of the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 19-Northeastern Regional Committee.
The fatality was a student of the NPA-linked schools TRIFPSS or Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur Inc. and ALCADEV or Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development Inc., Punsalan said.
Troopers recovered five high-powered firearms, four improvised explosive devices, bomb paraphernalia, ammunition, phones, personal belongings, medical and food supplies and subversive documents from the scene of the encounter.
Cullamats’s body was taken to a funeral parlor and her relatives were immediately notified of her death, Punsalan said.
The military said the encounter “is a timely and significant operational accomplishment,” noting that the issue on red-tagging is being tackled in the Senate hearing. – Ben Serrano
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