By CESAR JOLITO III
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has renewed his call for remaining insurgents to surrender following a deadly clash between government troops and suspected communist rebels in Toboso town over the weekend.
Lacson expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the encounter at Barangay Salamanca’s Sitio Plarending on Sunday, April 19, emphasizing the human cost of the conflict despite what the military described as a successful operation.
“It is painful to see Filipinos fighting fellow Filipinos, with at least 19 individuals reported killed in the clash,” Lacson said, reacting to the outcome of the military offensive.
“Encounters like these deeply sadden me because [there are] still fellow Filipinos shooting at one another,” he added.
The governor noted that while the Army characterized the operation as “justice served,” the incident underscores the continuing tragedy of armed conflict in local communities.
In the aftermath, Lacson reiterated the provincial government’s support for reintegration initiatives aimed at former rebels who choose to return to civilian life.
These programs include livelihood assistance, housing support and other benefits designed to help former insurgents rebuild their lives.
“The door remains open for those who wish to abandon armed struggle and rejoin society,” Lacson said, urging remaining members of the insurgency to consider peaceful alternatives.
‘Choose life, choose peace’
Meanwhile, a high-ranking National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed (NTF-ELCAC) official called on all rebel remnants in the region to surrender.
“To those who remain in the armed struggle, we say this: The path you are on leads nowhere but loss. The organization you serve will not protect you. It will use you, and when the time comes, abandon you. The long arm of the law will reach you — it always does,” NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres, Jr. said in a message to reporters.
“But there is still a way out. Lay down your arms. Return to your families. Avail of the government’s reintegration and amnesty programs. Choose life. Choose peace because peace is not won by bullets — it is secured when we break the cycle of lies, end the violence, and reclaim every Filipino life from a cause that was never meant to serve them,” he added.
The recent Toboso encounter involved troops from the 79th Infantry Battalion and alleged members of the New People’s Army.
Military reports indicated that at least 19 suspected rebels — five female and 14 male — were killed, including a senior figure identified as Roger Fabillar, who reportedly operated under several aliases and carried a P2-million bounty.
According to 303rd Infantry Brigade commander Brigadier General Ted Dumosmog, the operation was launched after residents reported the presence of an armed group encamped in Sitio Sinugmawan.
Government forces engaged the rebels at around 4:00 a.m., leading to a series of running gun battles that lasted until approximately 3:00 p.m.
Dumosmog said Fabillar was allegedly involved in multiple criminal activities, including extortion, arson, and the reported execution of civilians accused of being military informants in northern Negros since 2025.
The bounty on his head was reportedly raised by private individuals, including business owners who had been victims of extortion./CJ, WDJ