Toboso community prays after deadly NPA clash

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A prayer gathering for peace and community healing was held May 29 in Sitio Plarinding, Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental, 40 days after a deadly armed encounter killed 19 individuals linked by authorities to the New People’s Army in the area.

The Rev. Police Capt. Alexander Repaso of the Chaplain Service of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region administered a Mass for the eternal repose of the fatalities and blessed the encounter site during the 40th-day commemoration.

The Toboso Municipal Police Station, which provided assistance during the activity, said the gathering aimed to honor the memory of those who died, strengthen spiritual solidarity among residents, and promote peace, unity, and reconciliation in the community.

The series of encounters last month stemmed from intelligence-driven information about the presence of armed individuals in the area as authorities pursued the group of alleged NPA hitman Roger Fabillar Tapang, who was among the fatalities.

The incident sparked debate over the identities of the fatalities, with the Communist Party of the Philippines claiming only 10 were part of the armed struggle, contrary to the military’s claim that all 19 were part of the revolutionary movement.

Tapang’s group was linked to a series of liquidation activities targeting civilians, farmers, and barangay officials tagged as “military assets” in northern Negros, particularly in Calatrava, Escalante City, and Toboso, since 2023.

The Municipal Council of Toboso earlier approved a resolution declaring the Communist Terrorist Group and the CPP-NPA-National Democratic Front persona non grata in the town, days after the clashes displaced more than 500 residents last month.

The NPA is the armed wing of the CPP and has been involved in one of Asia’s longest-running communist insurgencies.

The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region recently said it will focus on examining forensic evidence gathered from the clash site amid the ongoing investigation.