Groups mark fourth month of Toboso 19 killings

By Juliane Judilla

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Human rights groups, sectoral organizations, church workers, and community members marked the fourth month since the Toboso 19 killings with a lightning protest in Bacolod City on Aug. 19, demanding justice for those killed and an end to what they described as continuing militarization of communities in Negros Island.

Led by Defend Negros Network and human rights alliance Manindigan Negros, the protest renewed calls for justice and accountability over the April 19 military operation in Toboso, Negros Occidental, which resulted in the deaths of 19 people, including civilians Alyssa Alano, RJ Ledesma, Errol Wendel, Maureen Keil Santuyo, Kai Sorrem, Lyle Prijoles, Dexter Patajo, and Jolinda Gemina.

Protesters also demanded the immediate withdrawal of military troops from civilian communities and an end to what they described as continuing militarization and counterinsurgency operations.

They called for greater protection of residents who have faced military presence in their communities.

“Ang Negros ginbubuan sang todo sang counter-insurgency nga programa sang peste kag leche nga gubyerno para punawon ang pagpakig-away sang pumuluyo sang ila sandigan nga demanda. Apang padayon kita nga magatindog para sa kabuhi kag hustisya,” said Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Negros spokesperson Danilo Tabura during the protest.

(The government poured its counter-insurgency program heavily into Negros in order to weaken our people’s fight for their basic demands. But we will continue to stand for life and justice.)

Human rights groups have described the April 19 operation as a massacre and accused the 79th Infantry Battalion of violations of international humanitarian law.

According to rights group Karapatan, civilians were indiscriminately targeted and killed, which the group said violated the international humanitarian law principles of distinction and proportionality.

Four months after the killings, human rights groups said the continued presence of armed troops in communities has heightened residents’ fears and added to the burden of families still grieving their loved ones.

They stressed that genuine justice for the Toboso 19 must go beyond holding those responsible for the killings accountable and must also include an end to the militarization of civilian communities.

“Habang nananatili ang korapsyon, habang nariyan ang pandarahas ng estado, patuloy na susulong ang maraming mamamayan sa landas ng pinakamataas na pakikibaka. Dakilain natin ang alaala ng mga nagbuwis ng buhay alang-alang sa ikabubuti ng nakararami,” said Cathy Estavillo of AMIHAN, honoring those who were killed in Toboso.

For the families of the slain, the passage of four months has done little to ease the pain as they continue to wait for accountability.

Claro Alano, speaking on behalf of Alyssa Alano and the families of the slain, urged supporters to sustain the campaign for the Toboso 19 until justice is served and those responsible for the killings are held accountable.

For the families, remembering the Toboso 19 remains inseparable from their continuing pursuit of justice.

Four months on, they continue to call for an independent investigation into the killings, accountability for those responsible, and the demilitarization of civilian communities across Negros.