The Philippine Army expressed condolences to the families of slain insurgents following a deadly encounter in Toboso, Negros Occidental on April 19, as it reaffirmed its intensified campaign to end the country’s long-running communist insurgency.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete said the fatalities were “victims of lies and deception,” even as he commended government troops for upholding human rights and international humanitarian law during the operation.
Nafarrete also lauded troops of the 79th Infantry Battalion for their “steadfast commitment to mission and dedication to duty,” citing their professionalism in the conduct of operations against members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG).
Despite the successful engagement, he underscored the human cost of the conflict, describing each individual drawn into the insurgency as “a tragedy for the Filipino nation.”
He renewed the military’s call for remaining CTG members to abandon armed struggle and return to civilian life.
The Philippine Army reiterated that operations against communist insurgents will continue without letup as part of efforts to dismantle the decades-old rebellion and secure communities across the country.