The National Democratic Front (NDF) in Mindoro is calling for the opening of a humanitarian corridor to allow the retrieval of the remains of a student who died during a New Year’s Day clash in Abra de Ilog, Mindoro, and to help locate another youth who went missing during the group’s withdrawal.

In a statement released Friday, NDF-Mindoro spokesperson Ma. Patricia Andal identified the deceased as Jerlyn Rose Doydora, who was reportedly a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education major in English at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. 

And Al said Doydora died after suffering an attack related to an existing illness.

The 203rd Infantry Brigade, however, said troops recovered several items at the encounter site, including Doydora’s Land Bank and BPI ATM cards, photos of several youths, medical and hygiene kits, food supplies, personal belongings, and documents the military described as subversive.

 Also found was an identification card belonging to Stephanie Jhoy Borinaga, a 20-year-old resident of Sitio Pagkakaisa, Sucat, Muntinlupa.

Andal did not disclose the name of the missing student.

According to Andal, Doydora was part of a group of young people who went to Mindoro to conduct research, interview indigenous peoples and farmers, and immerse themselves in local communities during the New Year period.

 She said the group also sought to interview members of the New People’s Army (NPA) to better understand what she described as the “concrete conditions of the masses,” the roots of the armed conflict, and possible paths to peace.

She said the group arrived in Abra de Ilog before the New Year and was assisted by local indigenous communities and farmers before being received by an NPA unit in the area.

Andal claimed that at around 6:30 a.m., government forces launched what she described as a “treacherous attack” while the NPA was still observing a ceasefire. 

She added that the NPA unit escorting the students was able to mount a defense and withdraw despite what she said was sustained bombing and strafing by four military attack helicopters.

During the withdrawal, Andal said one youth was separated from the group and remains missing. She added that amid the bombing, Doydora suffered a medical episode that eventually led to her death.

The 203rd Infantry Brigade said the operation was launched after residents reported that NPA leaders and members were converging in Barangay Cabaca to mark the founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New Year. 

One resident reportedly alerted the 76th Infantry Battalion about the presence of armed NPA members, prompting military action.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, for its part, said the 1 January encounter was a legitimate, intelligence-driven operation aimed at a communist group allegedly threatening local communities.