Thousands of Negrosanon masses, Filipinos in the country and abroad, and the international proletariat clenched their fists to pay tribute and honor the martyrs and heroes of Toboso, collectively called the Toboso 19. They are the 19 Red fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA) and unarmed individuals massacred by the 79th IB on April 19 in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental.

They included a squad of ten Red fighters of NPA-Northern Negros (Roselyn Jean Pelle Command) who fought the fascists to their last breath. They are: NPA-Northern Negros commander Roger Fabillar (Ka Tapang); political instructor Maria Clarita Branzuel Blanco (Ka Sanim/Pat); squad leader Rene Villarin Sr (Ka During); district Party cadre Genevieve Balora (Ka Raia); medical officer Pedro Bonghanoy (Ka Regen); Sonny Boy Caramihan (Ka Nikki); Arnel Javoc (Ka JR); Joros Caramihan (Ka Bunso); Labskie Purisimia Enustacion (Ka Judy); and Jocel Gimang (Ka John Paul). Hundreds of Negrosanons lined up in a long convoy to pay tribute and accompany their Red fighters to their final resting place.

These Red fighters of the people’s army directly participated in peasant production, held discussions on the rights of the exploited, and delivered social services to the Negrosanon people. They led and took part in tactical offensives against the fascist AFP and PNP.

Their efforts helped the unit expand its area and recover long abandoned areas. Party membership expanded by 30% and new branches were established across wide areas in the past year. Membership in underground mass organizations also grew by nearly 50%, while the number of people reached by the revolutionary movement tripled.

“They are the seeds, water, and sunlight that further nourished the revolution’s harvest of victories on Negros island and across the country. The shovels they left behind will be taken up by those of us who remain to continue leveling the three oppressive mountains of imperialism, bureaucrat capitalism, and feudalism,” NPA-Northern Negros said.

The Filipino masses also offered high tributes to the nine unarmed individuals massacred by the 79th IB. They were identified as: Altermidya journalist R.J. Nichole Ledesma; University of the Philippines-Diliman student leader Alyssa Alano; National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates-Youth member Maureen Keil Santuyo; Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura organizer Errol Wendel; Lyle Prijoles, Filipino-American leader of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines; Kai Sorem, Filipino-American organizer of Anakbayan in the US; young peasant Roel Sabillo; and two minors (15 and 17 years old) from Toboso and Calatrava.

A series of tribute programs were held for the Toboso martyrs and heroes. In particular, Altermidya held a tribute program for Ledesma on May 1; the peasant movement for Santuyo and Errol Wendel on May 3; the UP Diliman community for Alano on May 5; and Filipino migrants in the US for Prijoles and Sorem on May 4–5.

According to progressive groups, the six organizers and journalists were in Toboso to conduct research and solidarity work with peasants being driven away by solar farm and windmill projects in the province. Their decision to go to the militarized communities of Negros island was a conscious step to stand with poor peasants in the area.

Call for justice

Across different parts of the country and abroad, protests, candle-lighting, collective prayers, and other activities were launched to demand justice for the Toboso 19. They protested at the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on April 24 to hold the Marcos regime accountable.

According to Karapatan, the massacre can be considered a war crime for which the Marcos regime, the AFP, and the National Task Force-Elcac must be held accountable. “Whether they were civilians or combatants, the sheer number of those killed raises critical questions and conclusions about the manner of AFP operations,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.

She added that the military’s use of overwhelming and disproportionate force, its apparent failure to take steps to prevent or minimize deaths, a one-day media blackout, and conflicting reports on the locations of the incidents and recovered weapons must be questioned. She said the possibility that the military carried out a massacre, a war crime, including in the context of an armed encounter, must be investigated.

Many joined the call for justice, including San Carlos City Bishop and Caritas Philippines President Most Rev. Gerardo A. Alminaza, D.D. Several parties and legislators also called for an independent investigation, including representatives of the Makabayan Bloc and ML Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima.