Joselito Malig

Article (news)

THUMBNAIL-CRIME

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Authorities on Thursday cited the gunpowder residue found on 11 of the 19 fatalities in the Toboso, Negros Occidental encounter as evidence supporting claims that an exchange of gunfire took place, amid allegations questioning the legitimacy of the operation.Police Colonel Reynaldo Calaoa, chief of the Police Regional Forensic Unit in the Negros Island Region, said forensic examinations showed that 11 of the fatalities tested positive for gunpowder residue.“Out of the 19 bodies, 11 were found to be positive for gunpowder. Although there is a follow-up test, it’s still an indication,” Calaoa told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.He said investigators also recovered spent cartridge cases from multiple areas identified as encounter sites.“Hindi lang po isang site. May ibang sites din na pinagcollect-an ng cartridge cases. Kung saan-saan ang sinasabing encounter sites. Consistent naman na nakakahanap kami ng cartridge cases,” he noted.The findings were raised amid allegations questioning whether some fatalities had been executed rather than killed in combat.Calaoa, however, stressed that a negative gunpowder result does not automatically mean a person had not fired a weapon, citing possible causes of false negatives.“It also has to be understood na hindi po ibig sabihin na kapag nag-negative ay hindi na nagpaputok. Meron din kasing tinatawag na false negative. Ibig sabihin, may factors bakit nag-negative iyan—primarily ay naimmerse sa tubig ang bodies,” he said. “Most of them were immersed sa tubig, basa yung mga kamay.”He went on, “Another one to consider is yung distance ng muzzle, yung layo. Rifle iyan, malayo. Ang gunpowder residue niyan, mas malayo sa kamay.”Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) Commander Major General Michael Samson maintained that troops encountered armed individuals and defended the legitimacy of the military operation.“Ang nakasagupa namin were armed. It was a legitimate encounter. Ang identities nila—bakit may mga foreigner, may ganito—ang makakasagot nun ay sila [communist rebels],” Samson said.He emphasized that the military had no intention of involving civilians, minors or foreigners in the conflict situation.“Sa AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines], on our side, how we wish na wala sila doon. Sana. How we wish na wala tayong pag-uusapang minors, students and foreigners. Hindi naman namin mapili kung engkwentro yun,” the official said.“Hindi nila narealize ang danger until the event na maengkwentro sila... It is very difficult na to distinguish during the time ng encounter ang identity,” he added.For his part, National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said the communist insurgency movement in the country has significantly weakened in recent years.“We have to understand that the CPP-NPA-NDF [Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army – National Democratic Front] has recognized na dwindling na ang kanilang capability in terms of manpower, influenced barangays, even the number of firearms,” Torres said. “They only have 800 NPA [members] all over the country.”According to Torres, the remaining insurgents have shifted focus to selected areas where issues still persist.“With the limited manpower they have, they have refocused on areas… na mayroon pang issues na kailangang iaddress ng whole-of-government approach natin. So, they need to consolidate their forces in areas like Mindoro, some parts of Bicol Region, Samar, Leyte, and Negros,” he said.The official also noted that peace and security efforts continue through community-based systems established in formerly insurgency-influenced areas.“Historically, there were more than 9,500 barangays that were influenced by the CPP-NPA-NDF. That’s about 20% of the total number of barangays all over the country, and it was painstakingly cleared by our security forces with the support of local chief executives and other agencies,” Torres explained.“That is our way in preserving and sustaining our peace gains,” he added.

Authorities on Thursday cited the gunpowder residue found on 11 of the 19 fatalities in the Toboso, Negros Occidental encounter as evidence supporting claims that an exchange of gunfire took place.

Authorities on Thursday cited the gunpowder residue found on 11 of the 19 fatalities in the Toboso, Negros Occidental encounter as evidence supporting claims that an exchange of gunfire took place.

11 of 19 Toboso fatalities tested positive for gunpowder residue, police say

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11 of 19 Toboso fatalities tested positive for gunpowder residue, police say

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 21, 2026 05:14 PM PHT

Read More:

Toboso

Negros Occidental

encounter

Armed Forces of the Philippines

gunpowder residue

New People’s Army

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