BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Civil society organizations in Negros and former government peace negotiators called for the resumption of formal peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front, following the April 19 military operation in Toboso, Negros Occidental, that left 19 people dead.
In a joint statement, more than 30 groups, including Paghimud-os Negros Inc., Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and Environment Inc., Task Force Detainees of the Philippines-Visayas, Dakila Bacolod, Caritas Bacolod and Food Not Bombs-Bacolod City, expressed “profound grief” over the deaths in Barangay Salamanca, including two minors aged 15 and 17 and several individuals identified by advocates as civilians or non-combatants.
The appeal comes as Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. ruled out renewed talks with communist rebels, saying he objected to “any peace talks with the NPA” in an ambush interview with reporters last Saturday. Local media reported that Teodoro made the statement as the military continued defending the Toboso operation, which authorities described as an encounter with rebel fighters.
The Philippine Army also supported Teodoro’s rejection of peace talks in a statement to the Philippine News Agency on Monday, calling the NPA a “terrorist organization”.
The NDFP negotiating team, however, said only one issue remains before formal talks can resume: the “disposition” of New People’s Army fighters while negotiations are ongoing. The NDFP said the government wants the issue included in a framework agreement without first addressing the social, economic and political roots of the conflict, raising concerns that the government could demand a prolonged ceasefire or surrender of arms before reforms are negotiated.
Former government negotiators also urged the Marcos administration to disclose the status of the talks and resume negotiations without preconditions. In a May 4 statement, former members of government exploratory teams under the Aquino and Duterte administrations said informal talks had already begun in Oslo in 2023 toward a possible final peace agreement.
The Negros groups called for a credible and transparent investigation into the Toboso operation, the protection of civilians and non-combatants, and adherence to international humanitarian law.
Both statements said poverty, landlessness and lack of basic services continue to fuel unrest in rural communities.
“Let Negros be not a land marked by bloodshed,” the civil society statement said, “but an island of peace, justice and hope.”
Paghimutad 