Kabankalan City: Troops of the Philippine Army have returned the body of slain New People's Army (NPA) leader Marissa Pobresa to her family in Barangay Tan-awan, a mountain village in Kabankalan City, southern Negros Occidental. The military confirmed this action on Tuesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Pobresa, aged 23, was one of two NPA leaders from the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (KR-NCBS) who were killed during a clash with soldiers from the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) in the hinterlands of Cadiz City, northern Negros Occidental, on March 8. 1Lt. Dan Carlo Samoza, the civil-military operations officer of the 79IB, stated in an interview that Pobresa's mother received her remains from the troops at a funeral parlor before the casket was transported to their family home on Sunday.

Pobresa, who served as the KR-NCBS regional communications officer, was killed alongside Hans Ponteras, who was in his 40s and served as the acting regional front secretary and finance officer of the Regional Taxation Implementing Group. The encounter that led to their deaths took place in Hacienda Paraiso, Barangay Caduha-an, and involved approximately seven NPA rebels.

According to the 79IB's report, Pobresa's mother had not seen her daughter for over five years, since she was 17, before being recruited by leftist groups. She expressed gratitude to the government troops for returning her daughter's remains.

In a statement, Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, commander of the 79IB, emphasized their commitment to upholding humanitarian values and ensuring that fallen communist rebels are returned to their families with dignity. "We understand the pain of every parent who has lost a child to the deception of the communist-terrorist groups. We hope this serves as a wake-up call to those who are still being misled by false ideologies," he added.