Guv renews peace call after Toboso clash

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson renewed his call for New People’s Army members to surrender and return to the government following a deadly skirmish in Toboso, stressing that former rebels who laid down their arms have been given opportunities to rebuild their lives.

Lacson said the continued violence remains deeply saddening, particularly because it involves Filipinos fighting fellow Filipinos.

He issued the statement after a series of encounters on April 19 in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, where troops of the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion killed 19 suspected NPA members, including alleged hitman Roger Fabillar, who used the aliases “Arnel” and “Jhong Tapang.”

The Army has yet to release the identities of the other fatalities pending verification.

Lacson reiterated his appeal for peace and said the government remains open to helping rebels start over.

He also expressed concern over the recent wave of violence in northern Negros, saying clashes may persist as long as armed groups continue to carry weapons.

“It’s very unfortunate that we have so many casualties this time. I do hope no more of such incident will happen, especially in the area of northern Negros,” Lacson said in a media interview Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said in a media interview that the military did not celebrate the deaths of 19 Filipinos over what he described as a “useless ideology.”

He said soldiers are carrying out their duty to protect communities from violence attributed to the NPA.

“Trabaho lang namin ito, walang personalan. Wala kaming personal grudges against those who died in the encounter,” he added.

Dumosmog, however, commended the 79th Infantry Battalion troops for their professionalism and leadership in addressing the insurgency in northern Negros.

He said Negrenses want peace and development, but some people continue to fight the government.

“We hope they will choose peace rather than violence in the province. The long arms of the law will eventually fall to those who would not go down,” he added.

Eight encounters broke out in the village Sunday, displacing more than 800 residents.

One soldier was injured and underwent minor surgery after sustaining gunshot wounds to both arms, and is recovering in a hospital in Bacolod City.

The clashes also led to the death of Fabillar, who was wanted for allegedly leading liquidation and extortion activities in northern Negros since 2022.

Authorities had offered a PHP 1 million bounty for Fabillar.

The Army said the group had been linked to the deaths of 36 victims, most of them farmers, as well as a police officer and barangay officials, particularly in Calatrava, Toboso and Escalante City.

The 303rd Infantry Brigade said the operation dealt a major blow to the remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front under the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros.

The 3rd Infantry Division commended the operating troops for the mission.

It said the success of the operation was due in part to the vigilance and cooperation of local residents, whose desire for insurgency-free communities helped bring down the remaining Northern Negros Front members.

Maj. Gen. Michael Samson, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, said the operations are meant to end NPA atrocities and killings, deliver justice to victims and secure lasting peace in affected communities.

He said the combat operations are part of the Army’s continuing effort in Negros to neutralize all remaining NPA forces and achieve total victory against the insurgency.

Samson also urged the remaining NPA members in Negros to return to the folds of the law while there is still time.

He warned them against suffering the same fate as their comrades killed in recent encounters.

“We do not rejoice whenever lives are lost, but we cannot prevent such tragedies, as they are the consequence of taking up arms and fighting against the government,” he said.

The 303rd Infantry Brigade said it continues to maintain a strong presence and firm control in the area to prevent any spillover of conflict into civilian communities, particularly in affected villages.

The Army said it will issue an all-clear signal once troops confirm there is no longer any threat in the area.

For now, authorities said the needs of displaced residents remain a top priority.

The local government and police visited displaced residents from Toboso and parts of Escalante City on Monday to conduct dialogue and provide assistance.

Authorities said the visit was meant to ensure the evacuees’ safety, welfare and protection.

Police also conducted anti-terrorism awareness briefings during the visit.

The briefings emphasized heightened vigilance, discouraged any support for lawless elements and urged evacuees to report suspicious people or activities to authorities immediately.

Meanwhile, government troops also clashed with suspected NPA rebels in Sitio Palaming, Barangay Binalbagan, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, on Tuesday while conducting security operations.

The New People’s Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines and has figured in decades-long insurgency operations in several parts of the country, including Negros Island.