Insurgency: Decimation

The AFP recently engaged the NPA in one of the biggest and most significant clashes in recent history. 19 rebels died including a wanted hitman who had been on the run for four years. He was the head of the SPARU which is an assassination unit. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1273325

The elusive New People’s Army (NPA) hitman Roger Fabillar was among the 19 fatalities in a series of encounters between rebel remnants and government troops in the hinterlands of Toboso, Negros Occidental on Sunday, the Philippine Army here confirmed Monday.

Fabillar’s death ends a four-year manhunt by authorities for him, who is tasked with carrying out special operations for the dismantled NPA Northern Negros Front.

Going by the aliases Arnel Tapang, Jhong and Nono, he was facing a string of murder cases in northern Negros, with the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) offering a PHP1-million cash reward for his arrest.

“One of the fatalities is Roger Fabillar alias Jhong. He is also known as Arnel Tapang,” Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said in a telephone interview.

A series of eight clashes took place in Sitio Plaringding, Barangay Salamanca, from 4 a.m. to 3 p.m., he added.

All the fatalities’ bodies, 18 of whom have yet to be identified, have been brought to Shekainah Funeral Services in Escalante City.

In an interview with reporters in Toboso, Dumosmog said they turned over to the police’s Scene of the Crime Operations( SOCO) team the task of determining the identities of the 18 other fatalities.

“From here on, the SOCO will take charge. We just confirmed that there was an encounter and there are fatalities, 19 of them. As to the identities of the others, later on we will ask SOCO,” he added.

In a statement, Philippine Army commanding general, Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, commended the operating troops of 79IB “for showing steadfast commitment to mission and dedication to duty”.

As he condoled with the families of the NPA remnants who died in the military operation, Nafarrete said they were “themselves victims of lies and deception that exploit the vulnerable.”

“Every life lured into the communist terrorist armed insurgency represents a tragedy for the Filipino nation. It is our sincere hope that the remaining communist-terrorist group members will lay down their arms and choose the path of peace,” he said.

Meanwhile, Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco said in a radio interview that he hopes the residents who evacuated during the encounter can return home on Tuesday.

Some 167 families or 653 individuals from the adjacent villages of Salamanca and San Jose have sought shelter in two schools.

Philippine Army (PA) commander Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete extended his condolences to the families of the slain NPA insurgents, who were killed in the operation.

In a statement, Nafarrete said it was unfortunate that these rebels fell victims to the lies and deception of the communist movement that exploit the vulnerable.

"I commend the operating troops of the 79th Infantry Battalion for showing steadfast commitment to mission and dedication to duty. Your adherence to International Humanitarian Law and utmost respect for human rights stand as a testament to the professionalism and honor that define the PA soldier," Nafarrete said.

He also added that every innocent life lured into the communist insurgency represents a tragedy for the nation.

"It is our sincere hope that the remaining CTG (communist terrorist groups) members will lay down their arms and choose the path of peace," the PA chief stressed.

He said there will be no letup in the campaign to end the decades-long scourge of communist insurgency once and for all.

Each of the dead "represents a tragedy for the Filipino nation." At least so says the AFP. But they chose their method of patriotism which was to join the fight against the government. The AFP has been encouraged by this fight and says there will be no let up.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/04/20/army-chief-no-letup-in-anti-insurgency-drive-after-19-npa-rebels-killed-in-negros-clashes

The Philippine Army (PA) will sustain its campaign against communist insurgents despite a series of deadly encounters in Negros Occidental that left 19 alleged New People’s Army (NPA) members dead, its chief said Monday, April 20.

Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarette, PA commanding general, mourned the loss of lives in an encounter between troops from the 79th Infantry Battalion under the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) and remnants of the Northern Negros Front in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental on April 19.

“The Philippine Army condoles with the families of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members who perished in the military operation on April 19, 2026 in Toboso, Negros Occidental. It is unfortunate that these CTG members were themselves victims of lies and deception that exploit the vulnerable,” Nafarrete said.

“We assure the Filipino people that there will be no let-up in our campaign to end the decades-long scourge of communist insurgency once and for all. The Philippine Army stands firm in our mission to serve the people and secure the land,” he added.

Initial field reports relayed by PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said 19 NPA members were killed after six encounters between the opposing forces while one Army soldier sustained a minor injury but is now in stable condition.

The Visayas Command (Viscom) said the operation dealt a major blow to insurgents trying to regain ground in northern Negros. Government forces also recovered at least seven high-powered firearms along with war materiel.

“This latest debacle of the CPP-NPA is detrimental to their efforts to regain foothold in Northern Negros, as it weakens their ability to sow terror and fear among our people in the area,” said Lt. Gen. Fernando Reyeg, VISCOM commander.

Among those killed was Roger Fabillar, also known as Jhong or Arnel Tapang, tagged as head of the Special Partisan Unit (SPARU) under the Northern Negros Front.

The VISCOM said Fabillar had a P1 million bounty and was linked to killings of civilians in Escalante City and Toboso.

“Justice has been served for the innocent civilians whose lives were taken by this notorious terrorist. The neutralization of Fabillar delivers a powerful message that VISCOM will relentlessly pursue those who commit atrocities against our people,” Reyeg said.

The armed conflict in Negros Island has long been tied to land disputes and poverty. Insurgent groups have maintained a presence in remote areas for decades, though the military has repeatedly declared weakened guerrilla fronts in recent years.

“I commend the operating troops of the 79th Infantry Battalion for showing steadfast commitment to mission and dedication to duty. Your adherence to International Humanitarian Law and utmost respect for human rights stand as a testament to the professionalism and honor that define the Philippine Army soldier,” Nafarrete said.

Even as the military pressed its advantage, it renewed its call for remaining rebels to surrender.

“Every life lured into the communist terrorist armed insurgency represents a tragedy for the Filipino nation. It is our sincere hope that the remaining CTG members will lay down their arms and choose the path of peace,” Nafarrete noted.

You can't say "justice has been served" and then offer condolences claiming each man was deceived. Was Roger Fabillar also deceived? Where are his condolences? Why offer them at all to the enemies of the nation? 

This clash resulted in the displacement of at least 600 people who were forced to flee their homes.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2215024/over-600-flee-homes-as-army-npa-clash-in-negros-occidental

An encounter between soldiers of the 79th Infantry Battalion and remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental triggered the mass evacuation of 653 residents on Sunday, April 19.

Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco said the exact number of casualties had yet to be confirmed.

“We are still awaiting official reports from both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New People’s Army,” Jaojoco said in an interview at 11 p.m. Sunday.

He added that while local police were preparing body bags, no confirmed details on casualties were available as of yet.

The firefight in Sitio Sinugmawan, Barangay Salamanca, forced 168 families, or 653 individuals, to flee their homes. Displaced residents are currently taking shelter in school buildings in Barangays Salamanca and San Jose, he said.

Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said one government soldier sustained a minor hand injury during the clash, which began around 4 a.m.

Dumosmog said the rebels were led by Arnel Tapang, also known by the aliases “Jhong,” “Nono,” and “Roger Fabillar.”

A full briefing on the encounter and the status of pursuit operations is scheduled for a press conference on Monday morning, he added.

The Toboso clash came shortly after another encounter in the province.

On Saturday, April 18, troops of the 15th Infantry Battalion engaged remnants of the dismantled Southwest Front, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, in Sitio Lomboy, Barangay Caliling, Cauayan.

As the situation remains fluid, Jaojoco urged the public to remain vigilant.

“Let us continue to pray for peace and protection amid the ongoing armed conflict,” he said.

The NTF-ELCAC says the NPA was decimated and is urging the remaining Reds to surrender. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1273357

With government troops inflicting massive losses to the New People's Army (NPA) group in Toboso town in Negros Occidental over the weekend, a ranking National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed (NTF-ELCAC) official on Tuesday called on all remaining communist insurgents in the region to surrender and return to living peaceful and productive lives with their families.

"To those who remain in the armed struggle, we say this: the path you are on leads nowhere but loss. The organization you serve will not protect you. It will use you, and when the time comes, abandon you. The long arm of the law will reach you—it always does," NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a message to reporters.

"But there is still a way out. Lay down your arms. Return to your families. Avail of the government’s reintegration and amnesty programs. Choose life. Choose peace. Because peace is not won by bullets —it is secured when we break the cycle of lies, end the violence, and reclaim every Filipino life from a cause that was never meant to serve them," he concluded.

Torres made this call after government troops "decimated" a key NPA unit in Barangay Salamanca in a series of encounters.

The NTF-ELCAC official said a ranking NPA leader and long-hunted fugitive Arnel Tapang, with a PHP1 million bounty, was neutralized and killed following a clash with the 79th Infantry Battalion, a unit of the 3rd Infantry Division.

A total of 19 suspected NPA insurgents, including Tapang, were killed.

Torres said these encounters are a clear reminder that the long arm of the law will always catch up with those who persist in terrorism.

Likewise, the NTF-ELCAC official commended Philippine Army troops for the successful combat operation against NPA remnants in the province.

"Their courage, discipline, and professionalism once again demonstrate the firm resolve of the government to protect our people and secure communities long plagued by violence. But let us be equally clear—this is not a moment for celebration. It is a moment of reflection and reckoning," Torres said.

He added these individuals recruited and "terror-groomed" by NPA remnants are treated and used as "cannon fodder—used, deployed, and ultimately sacrificed by a leadership that remains distant from the battlefield."

"In Negros and elsewhere, this pattern has been persistent: individuals are isolated from their families, conditioned to reject dissent, and molded to believe that violence is their only purpose," Torres said.

Whatever can be said about this event it shows that the NPA has not been defeated and remains a force to be reckoned with.

Except the AFP claims the NPA leadershio in Negros has been wiepod out. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2216227/army-npa-leadership-in-negros-wiped-out

Five of the 19 suspected rebels killed in an encounter on Sunday were key officials of the New People’s Army’s Northern Negros Front (NNF), creating a leadership vacuum in the area, a Philippine Army official said Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said the group’s core leadership had been eliminated.

“Their core leadership has been wiped out,” Dumosmog told the Inquirer.

The 19 rebels were killed in a series of encounters with troops of the 79th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental.

Authorities have so far identified only five of the 19 recovered bodies.

Among those killed were Glenmar Bacosmo, reportedly the NNF secretary, and his deputy, known by the alias “Pat.”

Also slain were Rene Vilavencenio, vice squad leader of NNF Squad 2, and Pedro Bonghanoy, alias “Regine,” team leader of the NNF’s Centro de Gravedad.

Earlier identified among the fatalities was long-wanted rebel leader Roger Fabillar, who also used the aliases “Arnel Tapang,” “Jhong,” “Nono,” and “Domeng.”

Dumosmog said Fabillar served as commanding officer of the NNF Special Operations Group and Centro de Gravedad, and was linked to numerous killings of civilians in northern Negros.

Photos circulating online showed several women and a man described as “foreign-looking” among the fatalities. Asked whether one of those killed was a foreigner, Dumosmog said there are many foreign-looking individuals in Negros and did not confirm the claim.

The Army said troops recovered 24 firearms from the scene, including seven M16 rifles, three Garand rifles, three M14 rifles, a carbine rifle, an M203 grenade launcher, six .45-caliber pistols, and three .357 Magnum revolvers.

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said that while the military described the operation as “justice served,” the incident saddened him.

“When incidents like this happen, it really saddens me because it is Filipinos fighting fellow Filipinos,” Lacson said in a separate interview.

He reiterated his call for insurgents to lay down their arms and rejoin society, noting that both national and provincial governments have programs to help former rebels start anew.

Lacson also expressed hope that violence, especially in northern Negros, would come to an end.

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said the clash in Toboso should not be reduced to a body count.

“It must become a wake-up call. The conversation must return to root causes, not focus solely on armed actors. Peace processes must be inclusive, not reduced to military solutions,” he said.

Again, we have seen this claims many times. How can it be believed?

 According to the AFP "solid info" led to this clash. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1273400

The recent neutralization of 19 remnants of the dismantled New People’s Army’s (NPA) Northern Negros Front in Toboso, Negros Occidental, was due to accurate intelligence and precise execution of a battle plan, the Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) said on Tuesday.

In a statement, 3ID commander Maj. Gen. Michael Samson said these efforts are focused on stopping the atrocities and killings permanently and ensuring justice for their victims.

"Backed by reliable information and executed with precision, these combat operations are part of the Army’s continuing efforts in Negros to neutralize all remnants and achieve total victory in the fight against insurgency," he said.

The Toboso running gun battle has resulted in the highest number of casualties among the NPA guerrilla fronts on Negros Island in decades.

It's not clear if this means info from former rebels or from persons in the community or from good old fashioned humint. Either way 19 NPA are dead and the AFP is clamming this as a major victory. 

In Surigao Sur they are claiming the NPA has collapsed after military gains. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1273267

After decades of violence in Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities, the New People’s Army (NPA) is facing collapse as intensified military operations force its remaining fighters into retreat in Surigao del Sur, an IP leader said Monday.

Datu Rico Maca, the IP Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, lauded the Philippine Army for a series of successful operations that have weakened the manpower and firepower of the NPA’s North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).

“The NEMRC’s guerrilla fronts have already been dismantled, most of its fighters have already surrendered, some were killed, and their firearms were recovered by the military,” Maca said in an interview.

Recent military operations in the hinterlands of San Miguel resulted in the death of three rebels, the recovery of six firearms and bomb-making materials, and the surrender of two others.

On April 17, two female NPA members were killed in a skirmish in Barangay San Roque, San Miguel. One was identified as the finance officer and wife of the NEMRC commander, alias Bong Waco, while the other was a member of the Manobo tribe.

On April 15, the NEMRC’s political instructor yielded to the Army, citing trauma and exhaustion. On the same day, another rebel was killed, and five high-powered firearms were seized during an encounter in Barangay Bolhoon.

The Army also recovered four gallons of a nitro energetic molecule, used for fabricating improvised explosive devices (IEDs), in Barangay Mahaba, Marihatag, on April 12.

Maca noted that IP communities have long suffered from the insurgency and that its end will bring peace and development to the Manobo tribe. He expressed optimism that San Miguel and the rest of the province would be declared insurgency-free within the year. 

Yeah, we shall see how that goes.  

In a Samar clash a fatality was identified as a minor. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1273343

The New People’s Army (NPA) member killed in a recent encounter with government troops in Jiabong, Samar was a minor, a military official said Tuesday.

Capt. Christopher Tataro, spokesperson of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID), disclosed this information after the family identified the body following the April 17 clash.

Tataro said the 17-year-old fatality, alias “John Paul,” was a native of San Jose de Buan and was reportedly been recruited into the armed movement at 13.

“He was with the Yakal Platoon during the encounter, but further verification showed that he was a member of the Regional Security Force under the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee,” Tataro said.

The encounter involved troops from the 14th Infantry Battalion who were conducting operations in a hinterland village in Jiabong.

Following the encounter, the military renewed its call for remaining communist rebels to surrender and return to the fold of the law, assuring them of government assistance for reintegration.

Tataro also urged communities to support efforts in persuading insurgents to lay down their arms.

“The communist problem is not just a military concern but also a socio-economic issue. Communities must reject communist ideology, while the government continues to deliver basic services on the ground,” he said.

Why was he there? Why had he been fighting for four years? Did he believe in the cause? These are things we need to know.