The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) disputed the military’s account of the April 19 operation in Toboso, Negros Occidental, saying only a small number of those killed were its fighters while the rest were civilians.

In a statement, CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena said only 10 members of the New People’s Army (NPA)-Negros Island (Apolinario Gatmaitan Command) were armed combatants while the nine remaining fatalities were unarmed and not part of their group, disputing the claims of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine Army (PA).

The CPP identified their slain fighters as Roger Fabillar (Ka Tapang), who served as NPA commander of the Northern Negros Front; Sonny Boy Caramihan, 28, from San Carlos City; Rene Villarin Sr., 57, squad leader, and Arnel Javoc, 32, both from Calatrava; Pedro Bonghanoy, medical officer, and Jocel Gimang, 18, both from Escalante City;

Joros Caramihan, 18, from Don Salvador Benedicto; Maria Clarita Branzuel Blanco (Ka Sanim/Pat), political instructor; Genevieve Balora (Ka Raia), district party cadre, from Bacolod City; and Labskie Purisimia Enustacion, 33, from Toboso.

Meanwhile, the CPP said nine others were civilians, including two minors. They were Roel Sabillo, 19, of Barangay Tabunac, Toboso; R.J. Nichole Ledesma, 30, community journalist from Bacolod City; Alyssa Alano, councilor, UP Diliman Student Council; Maureen Keil Santuyo, 24, member of National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates (NNARA-Youth); Errol Wendel, 24, member of Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura;

Lyle Prijoles, 40, of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, from San Franciso, California (USA); Kai Sorem, 26, from Seattle, Washington (USA); a 15-year-old resident of Sitio Plarending, Barangay Salamanca, Toboso and a 17-year-old resident of Sitio Buklog, Barangay Lalong, Calatrava, Negros Occidental (identities of minors withheld by this reporter).

“Based on the initial information we have gathered, they were killed despite the fact they were unarmed or non-combatants. Among them are a journalist, a student leader, peasant organizers, overseas human rights workers and local residents. Two of the victims were children,” the CPP said.

The group acknowledged that “the New People’s Army suffered a tactical defeat that fateful day.” It added that the incident would not derail its campaign.

The CPP also alleged inconsistencies in the AFP’s reporting. It said the military initially reported recovering seven firearms but this figure was later raised to 20 and then to 24.

On the other hand, the military has yet to disclose the identities of those killed in the operation, as well as give a response to the claims of the CPP.

However, AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. and Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala earlier insisted that all of those killed, including Alano, were armed and allegedly exchanged bullets with the troops.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has announced it will conduct an investigation into the incident.