Red Cross honors Kidapawan hero

MANILA, Philippines - A Philippine Red Cross (PRC) volunteer who was killed during a bomb explosion at the Kidapawan City Jail last Feb. 22 was given a hero’s burial yesterday.

PRC chair Richard Gordon attended the interment of Benny Balmediano, whom he described as the “modern Henry Dunant,” referring to the founder of the Red Cross movement.

“This is tragic. Humanitarian notion dictates that all civilians and humanitarian workers like Benny and the rest of the Red Cross staff and volunteers must be protected at all times,” Gordon said.

Balmediano, a PRC volunteer ambulance driver, was attending to wounded victims at the city jail following an attack by suspected communist rebels when a secondary bomb hit him.

He was among the three dead while 12 others were injured.

Gordon presented a Resolution of Condolence passed by the PRC Board of Governors to Balmediano’s family “in tribute to the memory of a dedicated Red Cross volunteer whose sudden and untimely demise put an end to a life devoted to sincere and committed participation in the humanitarian response to the needs of the most vulnerable, especially in times of disasters and other emergencies.”

Leopoldo Devilles, administrator of PRC North Cotabato-Kidapawan City chapter, said Balmediano had always been the first to respond during disasters and emergency situations.

“He was very professional and highly reliable. We just lost an asset,” Devilles said.

Balmediano left a son, who works as disaster management representative of the PRC in Kidapawan City, and a daughter.