Students of West Visayas State University (WVSU) condemned the university administration’s invitation to Philippine Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete as guest speaker for the 2026 WVSU University Recognition Program on June 3. The students said there is no place on campus for butchers and human rights violators.

“Nafrete presides over an institution known for decades of human rights abuses, which includes extra-judicial killings, Red-tagging of civilians, surveillance ops and harassment,” the League of Filipino Students (LFS)-WVSU said. Among the latest crimes attributed to Nafarrete and the Philippine Army is the massacre of the Toboso 19 in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental. Nine of those killed were unarmed individuals and 10 were Red fighters.

The group said Nafarrete circulated and insisted on the falsehood that the Toboso massacre was a “legitimate encounter” despite evidence uncovered by the National Fact-Finding and Solidarity Mission in the town. “He is currently overseeing the ramping up of militarization of the Philippine army. If this trend continues more civilians will fall victim to further attacks by the army,” LFS-WVSU said.

Beyond military crimes in the countryside, the Philippine Army and the National Task Force–Elcac are also notorious for militarizing campuses. They trample on academic freedom and rights to free expression and organizing at universities through intervention and meddling on campuses.

LFS-WVSU said students of the university should be alarmed at the recognition and celebration of Nafarrete’s achievements and person. “He and anyone complicit in the violation of human rights is not and should never be welcome at this university,” the group added.

The National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP)-Panay also expressed concern over WVSU’s invitation to the butcher general. “We call on WVSU officials to uphold the institution’s integrity and safeguard the rights and welfare of the student body. The university must encourage critical thinking and value the principles of justice, accountability, and transparency,” NUSP-Panay said.

Nafarrete was appointed the 67th commander of the 110,000-strong Philippine Army in July 2025. He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1990. He spread terror in Filipino communities as commander of Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and as commander of the 6th ID.