Government troops kill 19 Maoist-led rebels in Negros
Government security forces killed at least 19 Maoist-led rebeles in Negros Occidental in running gunbattles as the military dismantled a major guerrilla base in the central Philippines.
Joe M. Reyes | April 24, 2026
MANILA — Government security forces killed at least 19 Maoist-led rebeles in Negros Occidental in running gunbattles, an Army spokesman said, as the military dismantled a major guerrilla base in the central Philippines.
Colonel Louie Dema-ala, an Army spokesman, said a soldier was also injured in the fighting but is “stable condition.”
“Nineteen NPAs died and one of our troops was wounded,” said Dema-ala, adding the military had encountered a major rebel formation of the Northern Negros Front (NNF).
The first encounter between troops from the 79th Infantry Battalion and the rebels broke out at 3:50 a.m. while the sixth and last one occurred at 1:30 p.m.
Among the rebels killed were Roger Fabillar, known also as alias Jhong and Arnel Tapang, the head of the Special Partisan Unit under the NNF.
“The neutralization of Fabillar delivers a powerful message that VISCOM will relentlessly pursue those who commit atrocities against our people,” said Visayas Command chief Lieutenant General Fernando Reyeg.
Reyeg said the incident was “detrimental to their (NPA) efforts to regain foothold in Northern Negros.”
He said the series of armed encounter “weakens their ability to sow terror and fear among our people in the area.”
The military said Fabillar is behind the killing of several civilians in Toboso and Escalante City, also in Negros Occidental. The government has offered a P1 million for information that would lead to his arrest.