San Carlos bishop urges responsibility, accountability amid Toboso 'clash'

The bishop of the Diocese of San Carlos in Negros Occidental on Monday called for responsibility and accountability among authorities, the media, and the public amid the alleged clash in Toboso that left 19 people dead, including two students and a local journalist.

In a statement on Monday, San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza urged authorities to “exercise power with restraint, humility, and openness to scrutiny.”

He also challenged the media and digital platforms to report with integrity.

“Avoid sensationalism. Do not exploit images of death for engagement or profit. The dignity of the dead must never be compromised,” Alminaza said.

He also called on the public to “resist the pull of disinformation and division.”

"Seek verified information. Choose dialogue over hostility,” Alminaza said.

Among the 19 people killed in the purported clash last April 19 were local journalist RJ Nichole Ledesma, student leader Alyssa Alano, peasant advocate Maureen Keil Santuyo, and Filipino-Americans Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem.

Every human life is sacred

Alminaza also called for accountability through a thorough and impartial investigation, protection for witnesses and the families of those killed, and transparency of evidence.

He emphasized that every human life is sacred.

“No label – whether ‘combatant,’ ‘suspect,’ or ‘collateral’ – can erase the fundamental dignity of a person created in the image of God,” the prelate said.

“This is why the use of force by the State carries a grave moral weight. It demands not only legality, but accountability. Not only authority, but transparency,” Alminaza added.

He said accountability is not an attack on institutions, but a way to strengthen trust in them.

To achieve this, Alminaza said everyone should listen, including authorities, witnesses, and the families of the 19 killed in the alleged encounter.

“We listen especially to those whose voices are often marginalized – the poor, the vulnerable, the grieving. Listening is not a weakness. It is the first act of justice," the bishop said.

“May the lives lost in Toboso not be reduced to statistics or forgotten in the passing of headlines. May they instead awaken in us a deeper commitment – to protect life, to uphold dignity, and to build a society where truth is not feared, but faithfully pursued,” he added.

The Philippine Army earlier questioned claims that some of those killed were civilians and not combatants, saying the fatalities were allegedly carrying firearms.

However, the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) disputed this and said only a few of those killed were armed fighters and that others were civilians.

On Sunday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the remains of the 19 fatalities have been turned over to their families.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) also began an independent investigation into the incident.

Earlier on Monday, Malacañang said it respects the CHR’s probe and said it will not interfere in the investigation.

In a statement, the University of the Philippines (UP) expressed sadness over the deaths of its students, Alano and Santuyo.

The university said it extended assistance to bring home the remains of the students to ensure that their loved ones could pay their respects with dignity.

“We also appeal to the public to withhold judgment on the presence of our students in underserved communities,” UP said.

“While initial reports indicate that both students were engaged in community activities for their respective organizations and not university-sanctioned programs, we stand by the right of all students to lawfully and peacefully exercise their constitutionally protected freedoms, especially in furtherance of raising their social consciousness,” it added. — JMA, GMA News