Authorities have arrested five individuals allegedly with the rebel group that figured in the encounter with the military in Toboso, Negros Occidental on April 19, 2026.

Nineteen alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in that incident in Barangay Salamanca.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) in Negros Island Region said they pursued the five individuals and arrested them evening on April 22 in Talisay City, Negros Occidental while they were on board a private vehicle.

“Immediately after the encounter, may mga monitoring tayo ng personality believed to be wounded during the encounter… may nakatakas,” said Lt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesperson of PRO-NIR.

One of those arrested is Glenmar Bacusmo, the alleged squad leader of the North Negros Front, the police said.

Also arrested were Danny Boy Pacheco, 25, from Himaymaylan City; Judy Manayon Caramihan, 34, from San Carlos City; Julie Ann Balora, 26, from Murcia; and Jerome Seballos, 57, from Bacolod City.

Seballos was the one driving the vehicle.

They five arrested were placed under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

“It’s just an ordinary work that we have done to protect the communities against all the violence perpetrated by the NPA. Trabaho namin ito, walang personalan. Again, we hope that we will be choosing peace rather than violence here in Negros,” said BGen. Ted Dumosmog, Commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army.

Meanwhile, authorities have identified nine of the 19 people killed in the encounter in Toboso, including People's Alternative Media Network (AlterMidya) journalist RJ Ledesma and University of the Philippines (UP) student leader Alyssa Alano.

AlterMidya and UP have also identified the two.

Malong said Ledesma’s remains have not been released just yet, as of this writing, because his body had bloated and could not fit caskets available.

His relative, Annalie, said they could not believe he was allegedly involved with the NPA.

“Parang hindi kami makapaniwala. Active lang siya sa school. Hindi kami naniniwala ng 100 percent. Masakit sa amin na jin-judge siya,” Annalie said.