𝗡𝗧𝗙-𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗔𝗖 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗹-𝗔𝗺 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘀 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁

April 24, 2025 The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) expresses its highest concern and deepest condolences to the family of the reported American citizen of Filipino descent who was among those killed in the recent armed encounters in Toboso, Negros Occidental. While full identification and circumstances remain subject to proper verification, we recognize the profound grief that accompanies such loss—especially when it involves a life cut short far from home and under circumstances of armed conflict.

Initial information reaching authorities indicates that the 40-year old individual was from California and was reportedly linked to Anakbayan- USA, a matter that must likewise be established through proper verification. If confirmed, this raises serious questions about the pathways through which individuals—particularly those in the Filipino diaspora—are drawn into situations of armed confrontation.

Let us be clear: we do not celebrate the loss of Filipino lives—nor of any life. Every death is a tragedy. But we must also confront the difficult truth that this incident lays bare. When individuals—whether Filipino or foreign-born—are drawn into armed struggle, the outcome is almost always the same: violence, loss, and shattered futures.

The facts surrounding the Toboso encounter are telling. Government forces responded to civilian information about armed elements, resulting in a clash where a ranking NPA leader with a ₱1 million bounty was neutralized, 19 firearms with grenades and explosives were recovered, a soldier was wounded, and fleeing elements were later apprehended.

These are not the conditions of a civilian gathering—they point to the presence of an organized armed formation operating within a community, placing lives at risk.

The reported presence of a foreign national raises a deeper concern that we can no longer ignore: the reach of recruitment, ideological influence, and what we have described as terror-grooming—processes that cross borders and prey on vulnerability.

This is not solidarity—it is exploitation.

It is the dangerous packaging of violence as a cause, of armed struggle as purpose, and of death as sacrifice for a promised victory that has remained elusive for nearly six decades.

We have seen this pattern before. The cases of Chantal Anicoche in Occidental Mindoro and Cristina Pasion, both Filipino-Americans reportedly sent by their organizations to join the NPA, are deeply instructive.

Anicoche was eventually found alive and has since safely reunited with her family in the United States—a fortunate outcome that underscores the importance of timely intervention.

In contrast, Cristina Pasion reportedly remains under the control of the NPA, and we express serious concern for her safety, particularly in light of reports that she had been wounded in a previous armed encounter. These cases highlight the very real risks faced by individuals drawn into these networks.

This compels us to express particular concern and alarm over deceptive recruitment tactics attributed to certain organizations operating abroad, which risk placing members of the Filipino-American community in harm’s way. The promise of purpose, identity, or struggle is too often used to obscure the harsh reality on the ground—where the endpoint is not empowerment, but exposure to armed violence.

The tragedy in Toboso is not just in the number of lives lost, but in how those lives were led into that moment. Young people, students, professionals—even those raised overseas—are gradually drawn into narratives that glorify rebellion while concealing its consequences.

They are led to believe in inevitability, in a future that justifies present violence. But the truth is stark: there is no inevitable victory in armed insurgency—only cycles of loss.

This is why the government continues to emphasize not only law enforcement, but prevention—ensuring that no Filipino, and no individual connected to our nation, is drawn into armed conflict under false promises.

We call on all sectors to exercise responsibility in how this incident is discussed. Let us allow facts, forensic processes, and lawful investigation to guide our understanding. Let us avoid narratives that romanticize or simplify what is, in reality, a complex and dangerous situation involving armed elements in civilian areas.

In the end, our duty remains unchanged: to protect communities, uphold the rule of law, and safeguard lives—especially the youth—from pathways that lead only to violence and irreversible loss.

The loss of life in Toboso is a solemn reminder: armed struggle does not liberate—it consumes. And no cause is worth the life of a son or daughter taken too soon.

Undersecretary Ernesto C. Torres Jr.

Executive Director

NTF-ELCAC