Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday commended the Philippine Army for a “successful” combat operation in Negros Occidental that involved the neutralization of 19 alleged New People’s Army (NPA) members.

In a statement, Duterte praised the 79th Infantry “Masaligan” Battalion under Lt. Col. Eric Alfonso for their role in the operation.

“Your courage, discipline, and unwavering commitment to safeguarding our communities are worthy of the highest respect,” she said.

She added that the operation, which she called an “achievement,” reflects the army’s operational excellence and "dedication to upholding peace, security, and the rule of law."

“Under my leadership, we recognize the sacrifices you make in service to the nation. May this accomplishment continue to inspire unity and strengthen our collective efforts toward lasting peace and development.”

Call on parents

Duterte also called on parents and guardians to remain vigilant in monitoring their children’s activities.

“We also call on parents and guardians to remain vigilant in guiding and monitoring the activities of their children, ensuring they are protected from harmful influences and prevented from being drawn into violent extremist groups,” she said, highlighting the role of strong families and communities in building a secure and peaceful future for the nation.

19 April encounter

On 19 April, government forces engaged the group at approximately 3:58 a.m. in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso.

The Philippine Army reported a series of encounters with 19 alleged NPA rebels, including Alyssa Alano, a University of the Philippines Diliman student leader, and local journalist RJ Ledesma of Paghimutad-Negros, which has drawn condemnation as red-tagging.

The army said the operation resulted in the neutralization of identified rebel leaders and the seizure of 24 firearms. Officials described the operation as a significant blow to the Communist Terrorist Group’s operational capability in Northern Negros.

'Armed and fighting'

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Friday defended the operation, stressing that government troops are not human rights violators.

He described Alano as “armed” and “fighting,” questioning her presence in combat gear during the encounter.

“If she is innocent and has no intentions of joining the armed group, why was she seen wearing [a] combat rig, with a vest that had magazines in it?” he said.
“She was armed, she was fighting. Our soldiers clearly saw that they were engaging in combat,” he added.

Call for independent probe

Rights group Karapatan called for an “independent” investigation into the 19 April operation.

“We want to have a truly independent investigation into the incident because we don’t believe those 19 individuals were just killed like chickens,” Karapatan Secretary-General Tinay Palabay said.