UP Cebu Alumnus Among 5 Killed in Negros Occidental Clash
Five individuals, including a University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu alumnus who once served as a student leader, were killed in a series of armed encounters with government troops in the hinterlands of Cauayan, Negros Occidental on Saturday, May 16.
Vince Francis Dingding, known among comrades as 'Ka Poy' or 'Moymoy,' was confirmed among the fatalities following clashes with the 15th Infantry Battalion under the 302nd Infantry Brigade. The military said residents in Barangay Abaca tipped off troops about the presence of armed rebels in the area, leading to the encounter that also spread to Barangay Poblacion.
Ka Maoche Legislador, spokesperson of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA), confirmed the deaths on Tuesday, May 19. The other fatalities were identified as Jobert 'Ka Robi' Casipong, Gilbert 'Ka Kolintong/Ka Downy' Tingson, Rolando 'Ka Anyo' Dantes Jr., and Alex 'Ka Kaya' Languita.
The rebel spokesperson said Dingding served as secretary of the Southwest Negros Guerilla Front. According to the CPP-NPA, Dingding left his job at a foreign tech company, disillusioned by low wages, and initially joined a 'tour of duty' in 2018 before becoming a full-time Red fighter.
A Student Leader's Journey
Before his involvement with the underground movement, Dingding was a prominent figure in the UP Cebu community. A Computer Science graduate and Philippine Science High School-Central Visetas Campus (PSHS CVisC) alumnus, he served as student council vice chairperson in 2015, councilor in 2014, and second-year representative in 2013.
He ran under Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante (NKE), where he championed campaigns against the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program and the Socialized Tuition System, pushing for more accessible education. He also supported the Anti-Pork Barrel Movement and opposed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
'Even in the smallest spaces, among classrooms, discussions, campaigns, and communities, he helped shape a generation that learned to struggle collectively instead of surrendering to silence,' the NKE said in a statement on May 18.
Friends Remember His Heart for the Marginalized
Mary Rose Ampoon, a friend and Computer Science junior, remembered Dingding's warmth and his ability to connect with people from all walks of life. In a Facebook post, she recalled how his humor could win over 'notoriously nonchalant' Computer Science students and bring a smile to a farmer's face.
'You always found a way to stabilize, diffuse even the most tense of situations with your calm and calming composure,' Ampoon wrote.
She credited Dingding with opening her eyes to the realities faced by ordinary Filipinos. 'So much of the conscientiousness I live with my life with was handed to me by your sincerity and courage during our first conversation 12 years ago,' she added.
A Call for Reflection and Peace
The PSHS CVisC alumni association expressed their condolences and urged the public to extend compassion to all lives lost. In their statement on May 19, they called for deeper reflection on the inequalities and divisions that persist in society.
'The persistence of social inequality, unrest, and political division calls for deeper reflection and genuine efforts of peace loving and peace building,' the association said.
The encounter underscores the long-running insurgency that continues to grip rural communities across Negros Island. While the military credits civilian cooperation for the operation's success, the loss of young lives, including one who once walked the halls of UP as a student advocate, serves as a sobering reminder of the human cost of a conflict that has stretched on for decades. For a nation that values peace and the dignity of every Filipino, the path forward demands not only vigilance but a genuine commitment to addressing the root causes that drive our youth to take up arms.