CLAVERIA, Misamis Oriental — In a rare gesture underscoring humanitarian principles amid a long-running armed conflict, the Philippine Army’s 58th Infantry “Dimalulupig” Battalion (58IB), with the support of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Gingoog City, accorded a decent and dignified burial to the skeletal remains of Junnry Lamumay Ayuma, alias “Rebo,” a former New People’s Army (NPA) commander, on December 20, 2025.
Ayuma, who served as Commanding Officer of Platoon Falcon under the SRC1, NCMRC, was killed during an armed encounter between government forces from the 58IB and Communist Terrorist Group–NPA elements at Sitio Mangilet, Barangay Bal-ason, Gingoog City on December 14, 2021. His remains went unrecovered for nearly four years.
The recovery became possible after a recent NPA surrenderer voluntarily disclosed information on the location of Ayuma’s remains. Acting swiftly on the tip, troops from the 58IB, in close coordination with the LGU of Gingoog City, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), conducted retrieval operations to ensure the proper recovery, documentation, and handling of the skeletal remains.
Following established procedures, the remains were formally turned over to Ayuma’s immediate family and brought to St. Peter Funeral Home, where preparations for burial were made. The family later decided to lay him to rest at a public cemetery, formally approving and receiving the burial arrangements facilitated by government authorities.
Lt. Col. Leoncito I. Grezula Jr., Commanding Officer of the 58IB, commended the LGU and partner agencies for their cooperation in ensuring a humane and respectful burial, despite Ayuma’s former role as an armed adversary of the state.
“This act reflects our commitment to peace, reconciliation, and respect for human dignity,” Grezula said. “Beyond armed struggle and ideological differences, we recognize our shared humanity. As Filipinos, it is our responsibility to honor the dead and promote healing within affected communities.”
Military officials said the activity highlights the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ adherence to humanitarian principles, even in the context of counterinsurgency operations. More than a logistical exercise, the burial was framed as part of broader peace-building efforts aimed at fostering compassion, reconciliation, and unity in communities long affected by conflict.
For local leaders, the event also sends a message to remaining insurgents and their families: that pathways toward peace, dignity, and closure remain open, and that reconciliation can begin even after years of violence and loss.