The Philippine Army transported the remains of Marissa Pobresa to her family in Kabankalan after troops killed her in an armed encounter in Hacienda Paraiso, Barangay Caduhaan, Cadiz City, on March 8, 2025.
Troops from the 79th and 94th Infantry Battalions, under the 303rd Infantry Brigade, personally sent Pobresa’s remains to her grieving family in Sitio Bayungbong, Barangay Tan-awan, Kabankalan City, on Sunday, March 9.
The Army identified Pobresa as a member of a communist rebel group, claiming that she served as its regional communication officer and operated in the movement for over five years.
Ranking rebels
Military officials said Pobresa, also known by the aliases “Kim,” “Renz,” and “Mia,” was a key figure in the communist rebels’ operations in Negros Occidental, particularly in coordinating propaganda and communication strategies.
Pobresa carried critical documents when troops neutralized her during the skirmish in northern Negros, which resulted in multiple casualties, the military added.
Her mother allegedly last saw her daughter at 17 before communist rebel recruiters purportedly lured her into the movement, wept upon receiving her remains.
Authorities said that Pobresa had multiple outstanding warrants for attempted murder.
Alongside Pobresa, troops also killed Hans Ponteras, known by the aliases Jojo, Lance, Teddy, and Mojo.
Ponteras reportedly held the position of acting regional front secretary and finance officer of the Northern Negros Front (NNF) of the New People’s Army (NPA), one of the guerrilla fronts on the island that the government has declared dismantled.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Arnel P. Calaoagan, commander of the 79th Infantry Battalion, personally supervised the transport and handover of Pobresa’s remains.
He reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to respecting human life and recognizing the grief of families affected by armed conflict.
“We understand the pain of parents who lose children to armed movements. We hope this serves as a wake-up call for those still involved in such groups. Even in conflict, we must uphold respect and dignity,” Calaoagan said.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.