A Catholic bishop has called for peace and justice following a series of clashes between government forces and suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Toboso town, Negros Occidental, which, according to the military, left 19 people dead and one soldier wounded.
In a pastoral statement on Monday, April 20, San Carlos Gerardo Alminaza mourned the loss of lives on both sides of the conflict.
“We mourn all who have died, regardless of political affiliation. For every life lost is a child of God, known and loved by Him. Every death wounds not only a family, but the whole Body of Christ,” Alminaza said.
He lamented the continuing cycle of violence in Negros and the fear and uncertainty affecting communities.
“We cannot accept this as normal. We cannot allow ourselves to grow indifferent to the taking of human life,” he added.
The bishop also pointed to deeper issues behind the conflict, including poverty, injustice, and broken trust between communities and institutions.
“Violence does not arise in a vacuum. It takes root where wounds have long been left unattended—where poverty persists, where injustice is endured, where trust between people and institutions has been broken, and where hope in peaceful change has slowly faded,” he said.
Alminaza stressed that lasting peace cannot be achieved through violence.
“Violence can never lead us to a peace that endures. We are called to walk another path—the path of a just peace, a peace rooted in justice, in dignity, and in right relationship with one another,” he said.
He urged all parties to pursue dialogue and uphold human dignity.
“To those in armed struggle… we appeal that the pursuit of justice may move away from violence and toward paths of dialogue that uphold life and human dignity,” he said.
“To government and security forces: seek peace not only through strength, but through justice, compassion, and unwavering respect for human rights.”
The bishop also called on local leaders to address the root causes of armed conflict and encouraged communities not to lose hope and to continue being instruments of peace.
The statement reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to accompany victims, support grieving families, and promote reconciliation in conflict-affected areas.*
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.