Independent probe sought into deadly Negros encounter
Several groups on Friday called for an independent investigation into the anti-insurgency operation in Toboso, Negros Occidental, that left 19 people dead, including a University of the Philippines (UP) student, a journalist and peasant advocates.
On the sidelines of a protest outside Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Human rights group Karapatan condemned the incident, describing it as as a “massacre” and calling out the military for using “excessive force” in their operations.
“We want to know the truth, what really happened that day. We want a truly independent investigation into what happened because we do not believe those 19 individuals were just killed like chickens,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general.
Earlier this week, the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army said a wanted rebel leader and at least 18 alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed by troops of the 79th Infantry Battalion in a series of encounters in Toboso on Sunday.
However, the UP Diliman University Student Council identified one of the fatalities as Alyssa Alano, its education and research councilor. The Altermidya Network also named RJ Ledesma, a coordinator for its Negros Island journalists’ group, among those killed.
Peasant organizations Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Tanggol Magsasaka likewise identified two others as advocates Maureen Keil Santuyo and Errol Wendel.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines maintained that the operation was a “legitimate military operation,” questioning critics over the presence of alleged civilians at the encounter site.
In response, Palabay said civilians and students have legitimate reasons to be in farming communities.
“Why wouldn’t students be there? Those are plantations. There were farmers there,” Palabay asked, noting that Alano was reportedly there for community immersion work.
The NPA also claimed that while some of those killed were rebels, others were civilians and human rights advocates.
Karapatan described the incident as a “massacre,” saying the recurring narrative of armed encounters is being used to justify killings.
“Whether they are combatants or civilians, they should be accorded rights under international humanitarian law. We are a party to the Geneva Conventions,” Palabay said. “It’s repetitive—they justify killings by calling them encounters.”
Fieldwork
The Inquirer sought comment from Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala but he has yet to respond.
The Human Rights Advocates Negros (HRAN) also urged the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to conduct an immediate, transparent and impartial investigation into the incident, particularly the killing of Ledesma.
Fr. Melvin Fajardo of HRAN said Ledesma, a writer and editor of Paghimutad – Negros Island Alternative Media, was a noncombatant conducting fieldwork on renewable energy impacts when he was killed.
“No amount of black propaganda can obscure the truth,” Fajardo said, calling for accountability and protection of civilians in militarized areas.
HRAN and allied groups also urged journalists, academic institutions and media organizations to defend press freedom and ensure safer conditions for field reporting.
Peasant and youth groups echoed the call for an independent probe, denouncing killings, militarization of communities, red-tagging and alleged rights violations.
The Committee on the Protection of Academic Freedom and Human Rights (CPAFHR) of UP Diliman condemned the killing of Alano, a political science student of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy.
‘Not enemies’
It called for a “transparent and impartial investigation,” saying the military’s account labeling the victims as NPA combatants must be independently verified.
“Our youth and activists are not the enemies of the people,” it said, describing Alano as a student leader engaged in advocacy for marginalized farming communities.
It demanded that human rights organizations and response teams be given access to information and resources in order to launch their own investigations.
The AFP however, reiterated that the Toboso operation was a lawful, intelligence-driven military engagement conducted in accordance with rules of engagement and international humanitarian law, stressing that civilian safety was a priority.
It also urged the public to avoid misinformation and support fact-based discussions.
