The Philippine Army (PA) dismissed claims made by militant groups alleging that the April 19 encounter in Toboso, Negros Occidental was a massacre conducted by government troops against individuals helping farmers on their land rights.
“The army recognizes the sensitivity of the incident and respects the right of concerned groups and families to seek clarification. However, any fact-finding effort must be anchored on complete, verified and contextualized facts,” it added in a statement.
The PA was reacting to a “National Fact-Finding Mission” video posted by militant group Anakbayan on social media claiming that government troops were in the area, well ahead of the April 19 encounter, and those killed in the clash were helping farmers in Barangay Salamanca assert their rights over some 18 hectares of land. The army said the video was a deliberate attempt to dismiss established facts on the ground.
“Available operational records and evidence recovered from the encounter site indicate that the individuals were not merely present as ordinary researchers or media workers. They were active combatants who were fighting alongside Roger Fabillar, a notorious communist-terrorist leader who is facing multiple arrest warrants,” it added.
The PA said the six individuals highlighted in the propaganda material, specifically RJ Ledesma, Kai Sorem, Alyssa Alano, Lyle Prijoles, Errol Wendel, and Maureen Santuyo, were found in the company of armed “communist terrorist group” (CTGs) (another military term for the New People’s Army) members and in an active insurgent encampment.
“Toboso local government leaders have earlier emphasized that these CTG members, who are disguising as researchers and journalists, did not conduct prior coordination with the local government,” the PA said.
It also noted that the Toboso municipal government in Resolution 077-2026 has declared the Communist Party of the Philippines – Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) remnants as persona non grata.
It said the communist insurgents were “associated with acts of violence and armed insurgency in various parts of the country” and “the presence and activities of these groups in various parts of the country have resulted in violence, loss of lives, destruction of property, and disruption of local development efforts.”
The legitimacy of the Toboso operation has been validated by local government leaders, including Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who confirmed that the encounter was legitimate and driven by civilian-led intelligence.
“While we stand ready to use necessary force to defend innocent civilians from any threat, we continue to call on CTG remnants to abandon their futile armed struggle and to choose the path of peace,” it added. (PNA)