The remains of Private First Class Drexler Gumayat, placed in a coffin and draped with a Philippine flag, received a hero’s welcome at the 503rd Infantry Brigade headquarters in Calanan, Tabuk City, Kalinga on July 21, 2026. (Photo Courtesy of the Tabuk CIO)

CAMP MELCHOR DELA CRUZ, Gamu, Isabela- The remains of Army Private First Class Drexler Gumayat received military honors when his flag-draped casket arrived at the 503rd Infantry Brigade headquarters in Tabuk City on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old soldier belonging to the 50th Infantry Battalion was killed in an encounter with 10 armed men in Barangay Apao in Abra’s Tineg town on Monday. The armed group is believed to be members of the communist New People’s Army operating in the Cordillera.

READ: Army troops engage in second clash with communist rebels in Abra

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After military honors in Abra, Gumayat’s remains were transported by a military helicopter to the 503rd Infantry Brigade headquarters.

Gumayat was given a hero’s welcome before his remains were turned over to his widow and his three children. Gumayat’s coffin was later escorted by soldiers to his home in San Pablo, Bulo,  also in Tabuk.

Brig. Gen. Rhenante Salvador, 503rd Infantry Battalion commander, saluted Gumayat’s casket and lauded him for his sacrifice.

“He is not a native of Abra but of Kalinga. He chose to stay there and help in achieving peace. He is our hero,” he said during the military honors.

The battle that cost Gumayat his life was a second encounter with suspected rebels by the Army in Abra.

The first Abra clash took place in Sitio Ambalag, Barangay Lan-ag, in Abra’s Lacub town on July 19. The firefight that started at 12:15 p.m. left two soldiers injured, among them Private First Class Jake Awingan, who was identified in reports. They were airlifted to a government hospital for treatment./coa

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