BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Families and friends of people killed in a military operation at Toboso, Negros Occidental, joined human rights group Karapatan on Wednesday in calling for an independent investigation into the April 19 incident that left 19 individuals dead.
At a press conference in Quezon City, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina “Tinay” Palabay specified that the killings were not an isolated incident but part of what she described as ‘a broader counterinsurgency ‘blueprint’’ enforced under the Marcos Jr. administration. She added that multiple accounts from Negros Island remain undocumented as human rights workers have been killed during duty and soldiers continue to camp within communities where alleged rights violations took place, such as Toboso.
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Palabay also denounced a recent ‘fact-finding’ report from a pro-military ‘peace group’, Buklod Kapayapaan, which they say is organized and backed by the military and government.
Karapatan cited drone video footage that reportedly shows the slain New People’s Army leader, Roger Fabillar, alive and possibly rendered ‘hors de combat’, or unable to fight, during the incident. Additionally, the rights group recalled the reported deaths of two minors, ages 15 and 17, as evidence of possible human rights and international humanitarian law violations.
“Marcos’s Armed Forces of the Philippines must be held accountable,” Palabay emphasized, highlighting instances of soldiers firing indiscriminately and using disproportionate force during the incident, causing the killing of civilians and combatants who were considered no longer able to fight.
Atty. Agpalo of the National Union of People’s Lawyers called for an independent probe into possible evidence planting and crime scene staging. “We do not want to mince our words: What happened in Toboso is a massacre,” Agpalo said. “There are blatant violations of the principles that should apply in an armed encounter.”
Matty Miguel of Defend Negros stressed that documentation from researchers and advocates is crucial to exposing the conditions of peasants and rural communities in Negros, where she said government neglect and militarization have deepened local struggles.
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Friends and relatives of those killed, including those who knew community journalist RJ Ledesma, University of the Philippines student council leader Alyssa Alano, peasant advocate Maureen Santuyo, and Filipino-American human rights advocate Lyle Prijoles, shared stories of the victims’ social awareness and work with farming communities. They called for accountability for those responsible.
Malacañang has said it will not interfere with the Commission on Human Rights investigation and that those found liable will be held accountable.
Paghimutad 