BACOLOD City — Authorities in northern Negros Occidental have intensified assistance and security measures for hundreds of families displaced by a recent armed encounter, as government agencies work to ensure their safety and address immediate needs.
Personnel from the Toboso Municipal Police Station (MPS) and the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOcPPO), in coordination with local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine Army, conducted simultaneous visits, dialogues, and relief operations in affected communities in Toboso and Escalante City.
In Escalante City, police officers from the Escalante City Police Station (CPS), alongside city government personnel, engaged with displaced families currently taking shelter at Udtongan Elementary School in Barangay Udtongan. A total of 74 families, or 222 individuals, from Sitio Proper, Sitio Lawis, Sitio Dauis, and Sitio Rancho are temporarily housed at the evacuation site.
At the same time, joint teams from the Toboso MPS, the Toboso LGU, and the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) of the Philippine Army conducted similar outreach activities in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso. A total of 168 families, or 633 individuals, from Labi-Labi, Salamanca, and Toril are currently staying in evacuation centers at Labi-Labi Elementary School and Salamanca Elementary School.
During the visits, authorities provided not only relief assistance but also conducted information campaigns aimed at strengthening community awareness and security. Police personnel led anti-terrorism briefings, urging evacuees to remain vigilant, avoid supporting lawless groups, and promptly report any suspicious individuals or activities.
Relief assistance, including essential goods, was distributed to affected families in Escalante City, while comprehensive aid efforts continue in Toboso to address the needs of evacuees.
The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said the coordinated response underscores the government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable communities while maintaining peace and order in the area.
Authorities also assured displaced residents of continued support as efforts to stabilize the situation and facilitate their safe return home remain ongoing./PN
