Cabadbaran City, AGUSAN DEL NORTE – A member of Civilian Active Auxiliary (CAA)-Civilian Armed Forces Ground Unit (CAFGU) was given full military honors by the troops of 29th Infantry (Matatag) Battalion on his final rest on April 28, 2023.
Cornelio Bersalona “Jun” Ubanan, 38 years old was murdered by four members of the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda, Guerilla Front21, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) under Arnel Bangues alias Dindo at So. Dalicanan, Brgy Balang-Balang, RTR a town in Agusan del Norte on April 23, 2023.
Renalyn Kalipa, the live-in partner of Jun who was with him when the incident happened disclosed that they were heading to Dalicanan Creek (2 kilometer distance from their house) to take a bath early in the morning when they were suddenly confronted by four CTGs. Thereafter, the victim was asked if he is Jun Ubanan then suddenly one of the suspects repeatedly shot him in the back. She witnessed how the CTGs gunned down her live-in partner despite begging them to spare his life. “Wala talagang kalaban-laban yung asawa ko tinambangan nila kami tapos tinanong na “Ikaw si Jun no?” naglabas sila ng mga armas tapos tinutukan ang asawa ko nagmakaawa ako na huwag siya patayin tapos sumenyas yung isa saka nila walang awang pinagbabaril sa likod ang asawa ko saka sila dali-daling umalis na parang walang nangyari.”
Hon Ma. Angelica Rosedell M Amante, Governor of Agusan del Norte said during the Community Dialogue that “Kung dili gihapon mo magmata ug dili gihapon mo magpatuo ug kamoy magdala sa kasamok sa communidad kay nagsupport pamo sa NPA. Mao nani ang last nga ihatag nako sa inyuha nga tyansa para magbag-o. Kaya namo gamiton ang pwersa sa gobyerno batok ka ninyo, seryoso ko niistorya ninyo karon kinahanglan nato proteksyunan ang communidad, kauban ang barangay ug ang LGU para dili na magpagamit sa pikas. Kita tanan dapat magkahiusa para wala nay kinabuhi nga mawala pa. (If you still don’t wake up and you still don’t support and you bring trouble to the community because you support the NPA. This is the last chance that I will give you to change. We can use the force of the government against you, I am serious, we need to protect the community, together with the barangay and the LGU so that we are not used by the terrorist group. We must all come together so that no more lives are lost.)
LtCol Cresencio Gargar, Commanding Officer of 29IB said in his statement “We strongly condemn the brutal killing of CAA Cornelio Ubanan perpetrated by the CTGs in broad daylight wherein he was shot multiple times at his back. Rest assured that we will not rest until justice is served to the perpetrators. The Philippine Army will assist the bereaved family to avail their claims and together with the Local Government Unit of Remedios T Romualdez we will give full military honors to CAA Ubanan.”
