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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Notorious NPA rebel with P1-M bounty killed in Negros Occidental clash

Notorious NPA rebel with P1-M bounty killed in Negros Occidental clash

Published Apr 20, 2026 01:20 pm
FABILLAR'S wanted poster.
FABILLAR'S wanted poster.
BACOLOD CITY – Government troops finally neutralized a notorious New People’s Army hitman after a four-year manhunt in Toboso, Negros Occidental.
Roger Fabillar – alias Jhong and Arnel Tapang – was killed in an encounter Sunday in Barangay Salamanca.
Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), confirmed that Fabillar was among the more than 10 rebels killed in the gun battle.
He said that Fabillar was linked to extortion and targeted killings in northern Negros since 2022, particularly in Calatrava, Toboso, and Escalante City.
Dumosmog said that Fabillar was responsible for the deaths of 36 people, mostly farmers, and one policeman.
Among those killed by Fabillar were Barangay Lalong Captain Benjamin Javoc on Aug. 26, 2022 in Calatrava; Kagawad or Councilor Benito Hubahib of Barangay Cambayobo in Calatrava on Feb. 22, 2023, and Police Senior Master Sgt. (PSMS) Rommel Aguilar, who was found dead in Barangay Laga-an, Calatrava, hours after he was reported missing on Dec. 7, 2025, following a brief firefight with unidentified armed men in Barangay Menchaca, Calatrava during a police operation against a wanted individual.
Fabillar had a P1-million bounty for his arrest.
Dumosmog acknowledged difficulty hunting Fabillar who frequently moved around.
Dumosmog said Fabillar’s death will have a great impact to the NPA, particularly their propaganda activities. "This is justice for all the victims they murdered and tagged as spies to justify their killings."
He urged remaining NPA rebels to return to the fold of the law and avail of government assistance.
Dumosmog said retrieval operations are ongoing for the fatalities since the encounter site is near a fishpond. "It's challenging to retrieve the bodies and the firearms," he added.
Scene-of-the-Crime Operatives processed the encounter site.
Troops of the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) clashed with remnants of the dismantled North Negros Front (NNF-D) at around 4 a.m. with pursuit operations ending at 3 p.m. Dumosmog said clashes displaced around 500 people in Toboso and part of Escalante City.
He added that one soldier was wounded and recuperating in a hospital here.
Dumosmog said this development boosted the morale of troopers, who have been pushing for lasting peace and solution to the insurgency situation in northern Negros.

Related Tags

NPA Negros Occidental
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