Groups decry ‘surveillance’ at Negros mortuary with Dingding’s remains

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Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara says ex-UP Cebu student leader and alleged rebel Vince Francis Dingding would be given a decent burial in the town

CEBU, Philippines – Human rights watchdog Karapatan and activists from Cebu cried foul over the alleged surveillance happening at a mortuary in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, where the remains of ex-student leader and alleged communist rebel Vince Francis Dingding are being kept.

Dingding was among five alleged members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) killed following a series of clashes with soldiers from the Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion under the 302nd Infantry Brigade on May 16, in Barangay Abaca, Cauayan, Negros Occidental.

Athena Romulo of Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante (NKE) told Rappler on Wednesday evening, May 20, that the military allegedly barred Dingding’s friends and paralegals from entering the funeral home to check on the remains despite getting permission from the owner of the establishment. 

Romulo said the group was only able to pay respects outside the establishment. Dingding’s remains were placed in a crate, visible only to them through a glass door. 

Army Brigadier General Jason Jumawan, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, did not comment when he was asked about the alleged surveillance and deployment of soldiers at the mortuary.

But Jumawan told Rappler on Thursday morning, May 21, that the military was still processing the transfer of the custody of the remains to the police.

The general also said they were reaching out to the immediate family of Dingding before finalizing the turnover.

“Gusto din namin sana makausap ang family since anak pa rin nila [si Dingding] at baka gusto nilang iuwi sa Cebu (We also want to speak to the family since Dingding was still their child and they may want to bring him home),” Jumawan added.

Earlier, Karapatan Central Visayas said on Wednesday morning, May 20, that Dingding’s remains were being prepared for transport “under unclear circumstances.”

“Staff members of R & S Funeral Homes reportedly could not [tell] where the remains would be taken, stating that they were only instructed by army and police personnel to place the body inside a crate,” the group said.

Parents refused to claim

Dingding’s parents, in a letter posted by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), disclosed that they were not claiming his remains.

According to the family, the circumstances surrounding Dingding’s death had caused them great distress, particularly his mother, who is reportedly battling colon cancer.

In a social media post at around 9 am on Wednesday, Karapatan attached photos that showed the crate and an Army truck accompanied by two soldiers.

The Cauayan Municipal Police Station confirmed to Rappler on Wednesday that the body underwent standard procedures with the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and was in the process of being turned over to the police station.

Police said the body would be released upon identification by immediate family members.

If remains are not claimed

Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara told Rappler that the town government was ready to give Dingding a decent burial.

“Just in case his family will finally decide not to claim Dingding’s body, we will assume the responsibility to give him a decent burial,” the mayor said.

According to Tabujara, the PNP’s legal team disclosed that the barangay where Dingding stayed in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, would assume responsibility of his remains.

The mayor added that they would wait for final instructions from the police and the Army on the handling of the cadaver.

As of this posting, Dingding’s remains are still at the R & S Funeral Homes.

Rappler called the management of the funeral homes for clarification on the issue and was informed that they would provide a statement at a later time. This report will be updated once they have released a statement. – with reports from Gwyneth Antonio/Rappler.com