TOBOSO, Negros Occidental — Following a deadly armed confrontation that claimed 19 lives last month, the municipal council of Toboso has unanimously voted to ban the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People's Army–National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) from operating within its territorial boundaries.
The council's decision came through Resolution No. 077, Series of 2026, approved during the local government's 32nd Regular Session on April 28, 2026. Vice Mayor Maria Luisa B. Dela Cruz presided over the morning session that began at 9:30 a.m. at the SB Session Hall.
The measure extends the persona non grata declaration to include all entities classified under the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) designation, effectively barring their presence throughout Toboso municipality.
Violent Confrontation Prompts Legislative Response
The council's action directly responds to the April 19, 2026 armed encounter in Sitio Plaringding, also identified as Sinugmawan in Barangay Salamanca, which municipal officials say has caused widespread fear and disrupted the community's social and economic stability.
Government forces from the Army's 79th Infantry "Masaligan" Battalion, headquartered in Sagay City, initiated manhunt operations that led to the prolonged firefight. The confrontation lasted approximately 12 hours, starting around 4 a.m. and concluding near 3 p.m., based on media reports from Rappler.
Military reports indicate that troops responded to verified intelligence from civilians about armed groups in the vicinity, engaging the targets at 3:58 a.m. The operation resulted in 19 confirmed deaths and the seizure of 24 firearms, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) statements.
Local Peace Council Backs Anti-Insurgency Stance
The resolution's justification references the Municipal Peace and Order Council's (MPOC) formal recommendation for local government condemnation of insurgency-related violence. The council emphasized its constitutional responsibility to maintain peace, order, and public safety within its jurisdiction.
Municipal legislators characterized the CPP, NPA, and NDFP as organizations linked to armed rebellion, violence, casualties, property destruction, and impediments to local development initiatives nationwide.
Million-Peso Bounty Target Among Casualties
The fatalities included Roger "Ka Jhong" Fabillar, identified as the NPA Northern Negros Front commander who carried a ₱1-million government reward for his capture or elimination. AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. previously described the military operation as successful.
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) classified all 19 deceased individuals as active NPA fighters, including two United States nationals — Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem.
Task force reports indicate both Americans entered the Philippines separately in late March 2026 before proceeding to Negros Occidental. SunStar reported that Prijoles maintained connections with Anakbayan-USA dating back to 2012.
Academic and Civil Society Figures Among Dead
The casualty list included University of the Philippines students Alyssa Alano and Maureen Keil Santuyo, along with Paghimutad-Negros writer-editor RJ Nichole Ledesma and community researcher Errol Wendel.
The presence of university students and civil society activists among the dead has generated significant attention from advocacy groups and prompted demands for thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Disputed Accounts of Victims' Status
Military officials maintain that all casualties were armed combatants killed during legitimate military engagement. However, the NPA's Apolinario Gatmaitan Command issued an April 23 statement acknowledging some deaths as their fighters while asserting others were civilians conducting documentation of peasant conditions.
A government-accredited fact-finding team from Buklod Kapayapaan Federation Inc., composed of former rebels, concluded on April 27 that no legitimate civil society research activities were occurring in the area during the encounter, contradicting claims about civilian researchers or journalists.
Rights Commission Launches Independent Probe
Amid conflicting narratives about the victims' identities, the Commission on Human Rights initiated an independent investigation on April 26, emphasizing international humanitarian law requirements to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants.
The following day, the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives introduced a resolution calling for congressional investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings of unarmed civilians and examination of Memorandum Order No. 32, which they connect to increased military presence on Negros Island.
Religious Leader Voices Concern Over Violence
San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza issued a pastoral letter on April 20, expressing grief over the deaths and describing the incident as deeply disturbing. The bishop's statement represents broader religious community concerns about escalating regional violence.
Mass Displacement Affects Local Communities
Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco confirmed that over 600 residents from 167 to 168 families in Barangays Salamanca and San Jose required evacuation to temporary shelters in local educational facilities. These displaced families await military clearance before returning to their homes.
The evacuation has severely disrupted community life, forcing families to abandon their residences and income sources while security forces conduct post-encounter operations in affected areas.
Full Council Endorsement of Anti-Communist Declaration
All present council members endorsed the resolution, including SB Members John Paul B. De La Cruz, Jonel R. Rosa-Ot, Martin John S. Ballesteros, Efren A. Mandajoyan, Jesil Marie C. Bedonia, Ma. Bernadette M. Bartolome, Adriano V. Pañares Jr., and Romeo S. Leyte.
Ex-officio signatories LnB President Edgar M. Agabon and SKF President Ladislao A. Villanueva II joined the unanimous approval, demonstrating comprehensive local government unity behind the anti-insurgency declaration.
The resolution establishes Toboso's official position against communist insurgency while supporting national counter-insurgency initiatives, as multiple investigative bodies continue examining the controversial April 19 encounter's disputed details.