By CESAR JOLITO III
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has launched an independent investigation into the recent armed encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town that left 19 people dead, as conflicting narratives continue to emerge from the military and various groups.
In a statement, the CHR said its office in the Negros Island Region has begun verifying the circumstances surrounding the incident, emphasizing the need for a fact-based and impartial inquiry.
“Either [claim requires] thorough, independent verification. Determination of status, circumstances of engagement, and proportionality must be based on verifiable facts and due process. In case of doubt, persons shall be presumed civilians,” the CHR said in a statement.
The commission notes the inconsistencies in the identities of those who died in the encounter, which it said would be further examined as the investigation progresses.
The probe comes amid mounting calls from multiple groups, including members of the University of the Philippines academic community, for a comprehensive investigation.
These groups maintain that student leader Alyssa Alano was not a combatant but was in the area conducting research on alleged abuses against local farmers.
A similar claim has been raised regarding community journalist RJ Nichole Ledesma.
While the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) maintains that the casualties were members of an armed group, other organizations assert that some victims were not.
Amid these opposing claims, the CHR said it has begun initial coordination with civil society organizations, local authorities and security forces, as well as with the families of the victims for the retrieval of remains in Toboso and nearby Escalante City.
It called on all parties to fully cooperate, preserve evidence and ensure unhampered access to relevant sites and information while strictly adhering to human rights and International Humanitarian Law.
Beyond establishing accountability, the CHR underscored the broader implications of the incident, describing the deadly clash as a reflection of the persistent human cost of armed conflict, particularly in marginalized communities such as those in Negros.
“Addressing the root causes of conflict, which include poverty, inequality and land issues, remains essential to sustainable peace,” the CHR said.
The agency also raised concern over reports that hundreds of residents were displaced due to the violence, urging authorities to provide immediate humanitarian assistance, ensure protection from further displacement, and guarantee access to basic services in accordance with human rights and humanitarian standards.
Earlier, the AFP stood by its account, describing the incident as a legitimate armed encounter.
The military said it is prepared to present evidence in the proper forum, asserting that Alano was armed and allegedly engaged government troops during the clash.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro also echoed the AFP’s position, raising questions about Alano’s presence at the encounter site and her alleged association with communist rebels./CJ, WDJ