By CESAR JOLITO III
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has expressed condolences following the reported death of an American citizen of Filipino descent during an armed encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town on Sunday, April 19, while also raising concerns over alleged overseas recruitment linked to communist insurgency networks.
In a statement, NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres, Jr. said the government extends sympathy to the family of a 40-year-old Filipino-American from California, USA, whose identity and circumstances of involvement are still subject to verification.
Authorities earlier reported that the individual was among those killed during an encounter between government forces and alleged members of the New People’s Army in Toboso.
The claim has not yet been independently confirmed pending formal identification and investigation.
NTF-ELCAC said initial information suggests possible links to overseas organizations, including a reported association with Anakbayan-USA, though it stressed that these details remain unverified and subject to validation by proper authorities.
The task force said the incident underscores continued concerns about recruitment and ideological influence allegedly extending to members of the Filipino diaspora, warning that such pathways may expose individuals to armed conflict.
Earlier reports from government forces indicated the crossfight stemmed from civilian information on the presence of armed groups in the area.
Authorities said the encounter resulted in casualties, the recovery of firearms and explosives, and the wounding of a soldier.
These operational details are also subject to standard post-incident validation procedures.
Not to ‘celebrate’
Meanwhile, NTF-ELCAC emphasized that it does not “celebrate any loss of life,” calling the incident a tragedy while urging the public to rely on verified information as investigations continue.
The agency also cited past cases involving Filipino-Americans allegedly recruited into insurgency movements, noting that some individuals were later located while others remain unaccounted for, according to its records.
Officials reiterated their call for vigilance against recruitment efforts that may target young Filipinos and members of overseas communities, stressing that such narratives often conceal the realities of armed conflict./CJ, WDJ