CEBU, Philippines – Nineteen people were killed on April 19, in a clash between army forces and suspected communist rebels in the village of Salamanca, Toboso town, Negros Occidental.
The army confirmed in a statement on April 23 that troops of the 79th Infantry “Masaligan” Battalion, under the 303rd Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, engaged in a firefight with members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in the northern Negros area.
“19 members of the armed group were neutralized, including identified leaders, and 24 firearms were seized,” their statement read.
Despite the army’s claims, the CPP-NPA said on April 27, that only 10 of the 19 alleged combatants were members of the rebel group, while nine were civilians.
Included on the CPP-NPA’s list of civilians were UP Diliman Student councilor Alyssa Alano, community journalist RJ Ledesma, activists Lyle Prijoles, Maureen Santuyo, Errol Wendel and Kai Sorem, and residents Dexter Patajo, Roel Sabillo and Jemina Gumadlas.
