• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Five suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels died in a series of encounters with troops of the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion in barangays of Abaca and Poblacion in Cauayan, Negros Occidental on May 16.
Brig. Gen. Jason Jumawan, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, said the soldiers engaged about 10 suspected remnants of the dismantled South West Front- Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros.
Soldiers also recovered an M60 machine gun, five M16 assault rifles, M14 rifle, M203 grenade launcher, a fragmentation grenade, and two rifle grenades.
The army identified the slain rebels as Rolando Dantes, commanding officer of the dismantled South West Front, who was facing multiple murder charges in court; Francis Vince Dingding, deputy secretary dismantled South East Front-KR-Negros; Jobert Casipong with aliases of John and Ruby, member of South West Front-KR-Negros; Gilbert Tingson, with aliases of Ryan and Kolingtong, member also of dismantled South West Front-KR-Negros; and Alexander Chavez Languita, alias Axel, member of South East Front-KR-Negros.
Maj. Gen. Michael Samson, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said the 302nd Infantry Brigade, which supervises the 15IB, responded to the calls on addressing the liquidation activities of rebel remnants in southern Negros.
There were at least 26 victims, among them 74-year-old Leonora Anguit, from 2025 to April this year.
The summary execution of Anguit on Feb. 3 in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, who was accused as a military informant, was earlier claimed by the Armando Sumayang Jr. Command-South West Front.
The latest victim Lindio Alvino, 52, was killed on April 22 in Barangay Manlocahoc, Sipalay City.
“It is unfortunate that many lives were lost, but the troops had to defend the community who are victims of the communist terrorist group’s senseless killings,” Jumawan said.
Jumawan recalled that Dantes had replaced Renel Cellon, who died during the April 26, 2025 encounter in Kabankalan City.
A total of 64 families, composed of 162 individuals, from villages of Abaca, Poblacion and Man-uling, have sought refuge in designated evacuation centers and are being attended by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.
Jumawan said the affected families may return to their respective homes as soon as the Philippine National Police scene of the crime operatives complete the documentation and processing of the encounter sites.
Samson said the neutralization of the five NPA members is a significant setback to the remaining rebel remnants and will serve as justice to the victims.
He vowed to sustain their intensified focused military operations to prevent the fleeing armed group from regrouping and thwart any attempt to sow fear.
Last April 19, a clash between troops of 79th Infantry Battalion and remnants of the NPA Northern Negros Front in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso claimed the lives of 19 suspected insurgents. | GB
