By Froilan Gallardo
Special Correspondent

IMPASUG-ONG, Bukidnon — Exactly a week after he was cremated, slain communist leader Jorge Madlos aka “Ka Oris” was turned over by town officials here to his younger brother, Rito, yesterday.

The ashes of his medical aide, Eighfel de La Peña, who was also killed in the October 29 clash ashes was also turned over to her mother last Monday, the military said.

The ashes of Madlos which was placed inside a simple, white box was turned over by Impasug-ong town Mayor Anthony Uy to Rito in a simple ceremony at the municipal hall.

Parish priest Father Arnel Villamino of the Immaculate Conception Church officiated the Mass before the turnover ceremony.

Rito, who traveled all the way from Surigao City, said it was a sad ending for the rebel leader whose exploits enthralled thousands of Mindanao residents in the past five decades.

“Now my brother is dead. Let us move on,” he said.

Rito extended the gratitude of his family to Mayor Uy and the Philippine Army for the proper treatment of his brother’s remains and the warm welcome he received in the town.

“We already offered his life to the God Almighty. His time is up, Rito said.

During the turnover, Army Lt. Abigail Lorenzo of the 8th Infantry Battalion gave the box containing the ashes to Mayor Uy who in turn gave it to Rito.

The town officials also processed the death certificates and other documents of Madlos.

Rito finally was able to bring home the box of Madlos’ ashes home to Surigao City a week after the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) swabs were taken on the body of Madlos and de la Peña were tested positive by the Philippine Red Cross laboratory in Manila.

The military said Madlos and de la Peña were killed during a military operation in Sitio Gabunan, Barangay Dumaalaguing in Impasug-ong town last Oct. 29.

In a statement signed by Madlos’ wife, Myrna Sularte aka “Maria Malaya,” the New People’s Army claimed that the rebel leader was killed in an ambush by the military in Impasug-ong town.

The local Inter-Agency Covid Task Force took over the remains of Madlos and de la Peña after the Philippine Red Cross made known its findings.

The local IATF sent the bodies for cremation in the Divine Shepherd Memorial Chapels in Barangay Bulua, Cagayan de Oro last week.

Mayor Uy also turned over the ashes of de la Peña to his mother, Normelita, who brought back to their hometown in San Luis, Agusan del Sur last Monday.