At least five individuals were killed following a series of encounters between the military and suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) in the town of Cauayan, Negros Occidental. The clashes occurred on May 16, 2026, in the mountainous areas of Barangay Abaca and Barangay Poblacion, where four separate firefights were recorded within a single day.
According to BGen. Jason Jumawan, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, the operation aimed to compel the armed individuals to surrender, but they allegedly resisted. He added that residents in the area had promptly reported the presence of armed groups before the arrival of government troops.
The military also claimed that the fatalities were allegedly involved in previous acts of violence in the region, including incidents of killing civilians in 2025 and 2026. Due to the clashes, approximately 116 families or around 400 individuals were temporarily evacuated from their homes but returned the following day after tensions subsided in the area.
