The Philippine Army confirmed that 19 suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a series of clashes with government troops in Toboso, Negros Occidental.
Colonel Louie Dema-ala, the Army’s chief public affairs officer, confirmed in an interview on Monday, April 20, that 19 suspected rebels were killed during a series of clashes between the 79th Infantry Battalion and alleged remnants of the Northern Negros Front in Barangay Salamanca at around 3:58 am on April 19.
The Manila Bulletin quoted Dema-ala as saying, “Confirmed [19].”
Brigadier General Ted Dumosmog, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, confirmed the death of rebel leader Roger Fabillar, also known as Arnel Tapang.
Fabillar, a top-ranking rebel leader in northern Negros, was wanted for multiple killings and had a P1 million bounty on his head.
The Army has yet to release the identities of the other fatalities, including other details related to the encounter.
The fighting displaced hundreds of residents, with Mayor Richard Jaojoco saying more than 600 individuals sought refuge in evacuation centers.
A scheduled military press briefing was postponed due to ongoing retrieval operations.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.