The tragic death of a former University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu student in a recent clash between government forces and the New People’s Army (NPA) has taken a heartbreaking turn, as the young man’s parents have formally decided not to claim his remains.
In a handwritten letter dated May 18, Romulo and Rica Dingding, parents of Vince Francis Dingding, addressed the authorities, requesting that all matters regarding their son’s passing be coursed through their local barangay captain.
The couple cited the need to spare their family, particularly the mother who is currently battling colon cancer, from further distress during this period of mourning.
The letter concluded with a poignant and devastating postscript: “P.S. We decided that we will no longer claim his remains in Negros Occ.”
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has highlighted the case as a stark illustration of the deep emotional toll that armed conflict inflicts on Filipino families. The incident has reignited the national conversation regarding the radicalization of youth and the long-term fractures it leaves within the domestic sphere.
“Vince Francis Dingding’s trajectory reflects a pattern often observed by authorities regarding student activists. Records indicate that Dingding was a prominent student leader at UP Cebu between 2014 and 2015, where he was involved in various political campaigns and the group Kabataan Cebu,” NTF-ELCAC said in a statement.
According to government reports, Dingding entered the armed movement in 2017. For the nearly ten years that followed, he served within various NPA structures in Negros, transitioning from an advocate into an armed operative.
The decision by the Dingding family has been described by observers as a profound symbol of the “invisible damage” caused by the insurgency, the NTF-ELCAC said, adding that while movements often focus on political objectives, the ultimate price is paid by families who see their children become unreachable and, eventually, lost to violence.
