The New People’s Army (NPA)-Southwest Negros (Armando Sumayang Jr Command) honored the three young Red fighters killed in combat with the 47th IB in Sitio Santol, Barangay Tampalon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental Province on March 21. Martyred were Ritchell Verano (Ka Makoy/Venom), 26 years old, Milky Sampini (Ka Gorting/Dores), 29, and Joedil (Ka Junjun/Cairo), 21.
The unit’s spokesperson Ka Andrea Guerrero said the three young fighters’ heroism illustrates why the NPA remains uncrushed by the reactionary state. “The youth and the next generation are ready to take upon themselves the responsibilities and the challenge of the times,” she said.
Verano, Sampini and Joedil capably fulfilled their respective duties within the people’s army. They served as NPA officers and Communist Party of the Philippines leaders at particular levels.
Verano came from the semi-proletarian class and was a resident of Carcar City, Cebu. He and his family moved to Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental Province. Here he linked up and became a member of Kabataang Makabayan (KM) in 2015. He joined the people’s army in 2017 in Central Negros and was assigned to Southwest Negros in 2025.
He was a Party Front Committee member at the time of his martyrdom and served as the NPA second platoon leader. “Verano is known for not refusing and diligently implementing responsibilities at any time,” Guerrero stated.
Sampini was a native of Barangay Lamugong, Manjuyod, Negros Oriental Province. He became a Red fighter in 2016 and integrated in a South Central Negros front. He was later assigned to Southwest Negros and was squad leader at his martyrdom. According to the unit, Sampini was skilled in counter-intelligence work.
Meanwhile, the youngest martyr Joedil came from Sitio Tigbao, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental Province. He was recruited into KM in 2020 and joined the NPA in 2023 when he was of age. He toured in South Central Negros and was then assigned to Southwest Negros. He served as second squad leader.
The 3rd ID immediately seized the opportunity to psywar the Red fighters and slander the revolutionary movement upon the martyrdom of the three. Division commander Maj. Gen. Michael Samson called on them to “abandon armed struggle and return to society” to supposedly avoid death.
In contrast, Guerrero declared that the three martyrs will surely inspire the Red fighters to attain the aspiration of the Negrosanon masses. “The NPA-Southwest Negros is optimistic replacements will come and even more youth will accept the call to take up arms and join the NPA, especially with the worsening crisis of the rotten system represented by the US-Marcos II regime,” she said.
Source : https://philippinerevolution.nu/angbayan/npa-honors-3-martyred-young-red-fighters-in-south-central-negros/