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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Troops turn over remains of 4 NPAs killed in gun battle

Troops turn over remains of 4 NPAs killed in gun battle

Published May 20, 2026 06:32 pm
THE municipal government of Cauayan in Negros Occidental and the 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) have turned over the remains of four New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed in an encounter in the town on May 16. (15th IB)
THE municipal government of Cauayan in Negros Occidental and the 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) have turned over the remains of four New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed in an encounter in the town on May 16. (15th IB)
BACOLOD CITY – The municipal government of Cauayan in Negros Occidental and the 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) have formally turned over the remains of four New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed in an encounter in the town on May 16.
Rev. Fr. Philip Palacios prayed and blessed the bodies of the fatalities in a solemn ceremony in Barangay Isio, Cauayan on Monday, May 18, before they were claimed by their families and brought to their homes.
The fatalities were identified as Rolando Dantes Jr., commanding officer of dismantled Southwest Front (SWF)-D; Jobert Casipong, SWF member; and Gilbert Tingson, SWF member, all residents of Sipalay City, Negros Occidental; and Alex Languita, a member of the dismantled South East Front (SEF)-D from Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental.
Authorities ensured that their remains were handled with the utmost respect and care and guaranteed that each would be accorded a proper and decent burial.
In a media interview, Dantes’ older sister Vilma confirmed her brother’s affiliation with the rebel group since he was a teenager, but she just recently learned about his position in the organization.
Vilma said that her brother joined the NPA in 2008 after witnessing the Army allegedly mauling their father for being a suspected communist rebel.
She added that her brother was in the armed struggle for 21 years and last saw him five years ago.
Vilma said that she had tried to convince her brother to surrender but he refused as he has already stained his name.
Tingson’s wife, in a media interview, said her husband had been a member of the NPA since 2019.
She said she last saw her husband in December 2024 when he celebrated New Year with her and their six children for three days.
She said they could not force him to surrender because he had firmly decided to join the revolutionary movement after he was convinced by the group to join them in their fight for the masses.
“Nasakitan gid ko (I was deeply hurt),” Tingson’s wife said. She has accepted his fate. “Wala naman ko mahimo kay amo na siya (I could not do anything because he chose to be like that),”
she added.
Both women said that they have accepted and have no grudges against the Philippine Army for their fates.
Languita’s sister said that they had no idea that her brother joined the armed struggle and last saw him four years ago.
She said that her brother witnessed the alleged killing of his father in 2018, an event that may have pushed him to join the revolutionary movement and resulted in mental health issues.
Casipong’s mother was heartbroken over her son’s death and had no idea that her son joined the armed struggle. She had not seen him since he left to work in Manila about five years ago.
Brig. Gen. Jason Jumawan, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade (IBde), denied abuse claims from families of the slain rebels. He stressed that they are bound to protect the community and not harm them.
A condemnation rally was held by Sambayanan-Negros along with other people’s organizations at the public plaza of Cauayan on Monday to denounce the atrocities and violent activities of the NPA in Negros Island Region (NIR).
The activity also aimed to raise public awareness regarding the alleged exploitation and recruitment of young individuals to join the armed struggle.

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NPA Cauayan Negros Occidental
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