Lorenzana says partylist solon has sibling who belongs to NPA

November 30, 2020

Following the death of the daughter of Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Eufemia Cullamat, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the congresswoman has a sibling who is a member of the New People Army (NPA).

"What we know is that Congresswoman Cullamat has relatives who are members of NPA. I think two or one. She's a member of the organizing committee... in barangays," said Lorenzana.

Jevilyn was killed in a clash in Surigao del Sur.

Lorenzana said the death of Cullamat shows red tagging of military has basis.

"Actually because of what happened, where the daughter of (the) congresswoman of Makabayan (bloc) was killed, it shows that our red tagging has basis. There's a basis that they support the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army) and the armed struggle," he said.

Lorenzana said this "is a grim reminder of the effects of the fruitless armed conflict perpetrated by these communist terrorist groups."

"Members of the Philippine Army involved in the encounter immediately evacuated Cullamat's cadaver from the encounter site. The military has also readily coordinated and provided transportation as well as security assistance to the Cullamat family. I have instructed the responding units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ensure that that the NPA casualty is treated with dignity," he said.

"We call on "our representatives in the Makabayan Bloc and all those who condone the atrocities committed by the NPA to denounce the divisive ideology that destroys lives and property. Let this incident bring to the fore the duplicity of the communist terrorist movement, whose members in the higher echelons pit Filipinos against fellow Filipinos," Lorenzana stated.

As he expressed his sympathies to Cullamat family, Lorenzana also call the Makabayan bloc to stop supporting the communist group.

"I express my deepest condolences to the family of Cong Eufemia Cullamat on the death of her daughter, Jevelyn Culliamat, during an encounter between the Army and NPA in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur on November 28, 2020. Losing the young is a tragedy in itself but losing them in a senseless war being waged by the NPA against the government is an even greater tragedy," he said. Robina Asido/DMS