BACOLOD City — The Negros Association of Chief Executives (Negros-ACE) has called for peace, unity, and an end to armed struggle following the deadly encounter between government troops and alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Toboso, Negros Occidental, as forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun raised concerns over the handling of the victims’ bodies and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In a statement, Negros-ACE acknowledged the broader social implications of the April 19, 2026 armed clash in Barangay Salamanca involving the 79th Infantry Battalion and suspected NPA rebels, which resulted in the deaths of 19 individuals believed to be members of the communist armed group.
The group described the incident as a painful tragedy that deeply affected both Negrenses and the Filipino people.
“This terrible loss cuts through the hearts of every Filipino, especially our dear Negrosanons,” the association said.
Negros-ACE reiterated its support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), recognizing the military’s mandate to maintain peace, security, and public safety amid ongoing insurgency threats.
“We remain steadfast in our support of the rule of law, the protection of Filipino communities, and the continued efforts of the AFP to preserve peace and stability in our region,” the statement added.
At the same time, the organization urged the NPA and its members to abandon armed conflict and instead pursue democratic and peaceful means in addressing issues of social injustice, inequality, and marginalization.
“The loss of life is too high a price to pay for peace and social equality in our country,” Negros-ACE said.
The association emphasized that concerns related to poverty, inequality, and marginalization remain legitimate issues that should be addressed through lawful, inclusive, and participatory governance.
Negros-ACE also appealed for healing and reconciliation among affected communities.
“In this difficult time, we call on all communities to choose healing over retaliation, unity over division, and compassion over violence,” the group stated.
The organization extended its sympathies to the families of those killed and reaffirmed its commitment to peace and stability in Negros Island.
Meanwhile, forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun questioned the handling of the remains of those killed in the Toboso incident, saying lapses in evidence preservation and body processing could hinder efforts to determine what truly transpired during the encounter.
Speaking during a press briefing on May 7, Fortun revealed initial autopsy findings on five of the 19 fatalities and pointed to inconsistencies that she said warrant further investigation.
According to Fortun, one of the bodies sustained gunshot wounds to the back, raising questions about the military’s narrative describing the incident as an “armed encounter.”
She also disclosed that some of the bodies were poorly preserved, while one set of remains was reportedly returned to the wrong family. Several articles of clothing were likewise found missing or incorrectly labeled.
“We’re talking about bodies that are not well-preserved,” Fortun said. “All of these cases should have undergone a basic homicide investigation starting with proper crime scene investigation — where they fell, where they dropped, and so on.”
Fortun stressed the importance of preserving evidence and conducting thorough crime scene documentation to establish an accurate reconstruction of events.
As of posting, the Armed Forces of the Philippines had yet to issue a detailed response to Fortun’s observations and findings.
The April 19 encounter remains one of the deadliest armed clashes recorded in Negros Occidental in recent years./PN
