By CESAR JOLITO III
The New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Island has asserted that not all those killed in the encounter at Barangay Salamanca in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town on April 19 were armed combatants, claiming that nine civilians were among the fatalities.
In a statement, Ka Maoche Legislador, spokesperson of the NPA-Negros Island regional command, said only a small unit of the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command was involved in the clash with government forces.
The unit was reportedly led by Roger Fabillar, also known as “Ka Jhong.”
Legislador claimed that some of those killed were civilians who had been documenting the situation of farmers in the area.
According to him, these individuals were monitoring alleged ongoing harassment, land grabbing and other issues affecting the agricultural sector.
Among those identified by the NPA as civilians were RJ Nichole Ledesma, described as a journalist affiliated with Altermidya; Allysa Alano, a student leader from the University of the Philippines Diliman; and researchers and human rights advocates Errol Wendel Chen and Maureen Keil Santuyo.
Also named was 19-year-old Roel Sabillo, who was reportedly working for his uncle’s business.
The group said these individuals were unarmed and were carrying only items such as notebooks and cameras at the time of the incident.
Authorities have yet to issue a formal response to the NPA’s claims, as investigations into the clash remain ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident, including the identities and roles of those killed.
All remains claimed
The remains of the 19 individuals who died in the encounter have been claimed by their respective families, authorities said.
The Communist Party of the Philippines also released a list naming individuals it described as civilians, including a community journalist, student leader, youth advocates, and residents from different areas in Negros Occidental, as well as foreign nationals.
Amid conflicting claims over the identities of those killed, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) said it has initiated further forensic examination.
NOCPPO spokesperson Police Captain Judesses Catalogo said a special investigation task group has conducted ballistic testing on firearms recovered from the encounter site to help establish the ownership and use of the weapons.
Authorities added that background checks are ongoing to verify the identities and possible criminal records of the fatalities.
The April 19 clash remains under investigation as questions persist over whether some of those killed were armed combatants or civilians./CJ, WDJ