NPA leader, 4 others killed in new Negros Occidental clash

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A New People’s Army leader and four NPA rebels were killed in a series of encounters on Saturday in Barangays Abaca and Poblacion in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.

Brig. Gen. Jason Jumawan, 302nd Infantry Brigade (IB) chief, said soldiers of the 15th Infantry Battalion responded to reports from community members on the presence of armed men in their barangays, which led to the weekend clash.

About 10 NPA rebels belonging to the South West Front-Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros engaged the soldiers.

Jumawan identified two of the five rebels: Rolando Dantes, also known as Anyo and said to be the commanding officer of the South West Front, and Joebert Casipong.

The remaining three have yet to be identified.

Dantes faced multiple murder charges in several courts, Jumawan said.

Soldiers reported recovering an M60 machine gun, five M16 assault rifles, an M14 rifle and M203 grenade launcher, a fragmentation grenade and two rifle grenades, among other items.

Maj. Gen. Michael Samson, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said the 302nd IB has been responding to calls to address the NPA “liquidation” activities, referring to the killing of civilians.

Samson cited the case of Leonora Anguit, a 74-year-old who was executed in Barangay Tapi in Kabankalan City on Feb. 3.

He said Anguit was among the 28 people killed by the NPA from 2025 to April this year.

“It is unfortunate that many lives have been lost. The (government) troops had to defend the community who are victims of the NPA’s senseless killings by tagging innocent civilians as spies,” Jumawan said.

Mayor John Rey Tabujara said 71 families with 299 members from Barangays Abaca, Poblacion and Man-uling have temporarily sought refuge in designated evacuation centers for security reasons.

Tabujara said the evacuees are being attended to by the Cauayan municipal social welfare and development office.

Last month, 19 alleged NPA rebels were killed in a clash with soldiers in Barangay Salamanca in Toboso town.