BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Iglesia Filipina Independiente Diocese of Bago condemned the killing of 19 people during an April 19 military operation in Negros Occidental, calling for truth, accountability, and justice amid mounting criticism from human rights advocates over the incident.
In a diocesan statement signed by Bishop Virgilio B. Amihan Jr., the church said Negros was “once again grieving” and warned against language that obscures “the human cost of violence.”
“Nineteen persons, created in the image and likeness of God, were killed on April 19, 2026, in Toboso, Negros Occidental,” the statement read. “Their lives were not disposable.”
The statement came weeks after a military operation in Toboso left 19 dead in what the Armed Forces of the Philippines described as an encounter between government troops and members of the New People’s Army. The incident quickly drew national attention after rights organizations, church groups, and activists questioned the circumstances surrounding the killings and raised concerns about possible violations of international humanitarian law.
Photo Source: Karapatan/Facebook
Human rights groups, including Human Rights Advocates Negros and Karapatan, called for an independent investigation into the operation, citing allegations of restricted access to affected communities, civilian displacement, and the broader climate of militarization in Negros Island.
The Diocese of Bago linked the Toboso killings to previous deadly incidents in Negros, including the Sagay 9 in 2018 and the so-called Negros 14 in 2019, saying the deaths reflected a “deeper pattern of suffering” on the island.
“We also speak with clarity: the taking of life is a grave sin against God and against neighbor,” the diocese said.
The church urged authorities to pursue justice “with integrity and courage” and called on the public not to remain silent in the face of violence and injustice.
Paghimutad 