One of the slain rebels in Kabankalan City on Sunday was a University of the Philippines Cebu alumna and transwoman activist, the official online student publication of the university reported on Monday, April 28.
Dee Supelanas, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication alumna of UP Cebu, was a transwoman activist and student leader who fought for free education, basic social services, good governance, democratic rights, and the fight against fascism and tyranny, Tug-ani, the official student publication of the University of the Philippines Cebu, said in a Facebook post.
The Army reported that one of the seven killed in the encounter was Jhon Isidor Supelanas, alias Dalia, a political instructor of the New People’s Army South West Front. As of Monday morning her body had not been claimed by her family.
Supelanas joined the Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante in 2018 and served as the College of Communication, Art, and Design representative to the UP Cebu student council from 2019 to 2021, Tug-ani reported.
“Witnessing the violence of state fascism under Duterte, especially with the proclamation of the Memorandum Order 32 (MO 32) and the AFP-PNP’s Synchronized Enhanced Military Police Operations (SEMPO) which led to the Oplan Sauron massacre of 14 Negros farmers last March 30, 2019, Dee later joined the Fact-Finding Mission investigating these killings,” it said.
In 2020, Dee served as coordinator of the National Union of Students of the Philippines Cebu, KASAMA sa UP Secretary General for Membership, and executive committee member in reviving Anakbayan UP Cebu. In 2021, she became the spokesperson of Kabataan Partylist Cebu, Tug-ani added.
Recognized for her leadership, Dee was nominated as UP Cebu’s 38th Student Regent Nominee — the highest student representation in the UP System. She later served as chairperson of the UP Cebu University Student Council, leading the return to face-to-face classes, lobbying for student concerns, organizing activities, and spearheading relief operations during the pandemic, it added*