Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. addressed the aftermath of a military encounter in Toboso, Negros Occidental, which resulted in 19 deaths on April 19. He firmly stated that all individuals killed were combatants from the New People's Army (NPA) and dismissed claims that six were civilians as misinformation. Teodoro criticized the credibility of the NPA's statements, labeling them as propaganda. He highlighted that the NPA has been implicated in the deaths of 49 civilians in Negros, emphasizing the need for accountability for alleged human rights violations. Furthermore, he expressed gratitude to local government officials for their support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and acknowledged the dedication of soldiers involved in the operations. Teodoro's remarks come amidst growing concerns over the NPA's violent actions against civilians, with local groups calling for investigations into these incidents. He urged military personnel to continue their work and combat disinformation surrounding the military's operations.