Brig. Gen. Jason Jumawan (2nd from right), commander of the Philippine Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade, visits the area near the encounter site in Barangay Abaca, Cauayan, Negros Occidental on May 17, 2026. Five New People’s Army remnants died during a clash with troops of the 15th Infantry Battalion on May 16, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Cheng Santillan)
BACOLOD CITY — Renewed clash between Philippine Army troops and New People’s Army (NPA) remnants in Cauayan, Negros Occidental over the weekend claimed the lives of five communist rebels, the military said in a report.
Information from the locals led soldiers of the 15th Infantry Battalion to the location of South West Front fighters and a running gunbattle ensued in the vicinity of barangays Abaca, Poblacion and Man-uling.
In a statement, Brig. Gen. Jason Jumawan, commander 302nd Infantry Brigade (IBde), said the heavy losses suffered by the NPA “exposes the deteriorating condition” of the dismantled rebel front.
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