Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Jessie Cruzat

ABS-CBN News

More than a month after the encounter between government troops and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Toboso, Negros Occidental, that left 19 individuals dead, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Saturday reiterated that no civilians were killed during the operation. Teodoro maintained that all those killed in the military operation were armed members of the rebel group.This comes despite claims from several groups and human rights advocates that six of the 19 fatalities were civilians, including University of the Philippines student Alyssa Alano, community journalist RJ Ledesma, and two Fil-Am activists.<div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/21/11-of-19-toboso-fatalities-tested-positive-for-gunpowder-residue-police-say-1714">11 of 19 Toboso fatalities tested positive for gunpowder residue, police say</a></div> “Anong source nila na sibilyan yun? Anong source? Eh, hearsay yun. Ang mga sundalo natin, nakita na armado eh. Yung anim. So anong source nila na sibilyan? Sa NPA yung source? What kind of credibility can you give the statement of a terrorist organization?” Teodoro said. Based on forensic examination results, 11 of those killed tested positive for gunpowder residue. However, the defense chief said the eight others should not automatically be considered unarmed. “Paraffin test is secondary. And it cannot substitute the testimony of an actual participant. Which is direct evidence rather than hearsay. There are, there&#x27;s a lot of misinformation coming out and I&#x27;m here to correct that misimpression and misinformation. And I am 100% sure of the legitimacy, hindi lang sa planning but sa conduct ng operation sa Toboso and sa Cauayan,” he added. Experts have long described paraffin test results as “inconclusive” to determine whether a person had fired a weapon. Meanwhile, Teodoro personally visited Negros Occidental to assess the peace and security situation in the province. He also reiterated his opposition to reopening peace talks or negotiations with the NPA, saying local government units already have mechanisms in place to address insurgency concerns.<div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/7/-tao-people-fortun-slams-corned-beef-insult-on-toboso-deaths-2023">&#x27;Tao, people&#x27;: Fortun slams ‘corned beef’ insult on Toboso deaths </a></div> These include programs for former rebels returning to the fold of the law. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson assured Teodoro that the provincial government would continue supporting former rebels through reintegration programs. “Basically, we assure the SND that the provincial government will continue to serve the returning rebels. We call them peace volunteers now. So, we will continue to help them through livelihood. And we have civil society organizations who are helping to create this livelihood for our returning rebels,” Lacson said. Teodoro also met with troops from the 79th and 15th Infantry Battalions and reminded them that they have the government’s full support in its anti-insurgency campaign. During the visit, military officials presented high-powered firearms recovered from separate operations against rebels in Cauayan and Kabankalan.<div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/12/afp-condemns-corned-beef-remarks-over-toboso-deaths-1715">&#x27;Disrespectful, dehumanizing&#x27;: AFP condemns &#x27;corned beef&#x27; remarks over Toboso deaths </a></div> Soldiers also recovered improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and anti-personnel mines. “Yan ang patunay na talagang terorista kasi to whom it may concern ‘yan. At pag nagwi-withdraw sila, nandiyan ‘yong anti-personnel mine madadamay ‘yong mga sundalo natin. Hindi ko talaga pwedeng payagan itong kalokohan na to,” Teodoro said. Speaking in Ilonggo, the defense chief also appealed to rebels who wish to surrender and return to the government, assuring them of assistance and protection.<div> </div>

More than a month after the encounter between government troops and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Toboso, Negros Occidental, that left 19 individuals dead, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Saturday reiterated that no civilians were killed during the operation.

More than a month after the encounter between government troops and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Toboso, Negros Occidental, that left 19 individuals dead, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Saturday reiterated that no civilians were killed during the operation.

‘Ano’ng source nila?’: Teodoro dismisses civilian casualty allegations in Toboso encounter

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‘Ano’ng source nila?’: Teodoro dismisses civilian casualty allegations in Toboso encounter

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 23, 2026 09:39 PM PHT

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Toboso

Negros Occidental

NPA

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Philippine Army

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