KARAPATAN: Drone video footage of Fabillar, killing of minors in Negros expose grave human rights and IHL violations
KARAPATAN Public Information
PRESS RELEASE
28 April 2026
Reference: Cristina Palabay, KARAPATAN secretary general, 09173162831
KARAPATAN Public Information Desk, 09189790580
KARAPATAN: Drone video footage of Fabillar, killing of minors in Negros expose grave human rights and IHL violations
Recent reports on a video drone footage indicating that slain New People’s Army leader Roger Fabillar was alive and possibly rendered hors de combat during the incident, as well as the killing of two minors, ages 15 and 17 years old, further expose the chilling massacre of 19 individuals in Toboso, Negros Occidental.
“Marcos’s Armed Forces of the Philippines must be held accountable for its soldiers’ ruthless massacre through indiscriminate firing, use of disproportionate force, and killings of civilians and combatants rendered hors de combat. These constitute grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and thus are war crimes,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan Secretary General.
“The AFP’s practice that no quarter will be given is a willful and blatant breach of the Geneva conventions and domestic law on IHL. Their admission that they killed the 19, even without ascertaining the identities and status as combatants or civilians, reflects a gross disregard for the rules of war and the protection afforded to civilians and those who are no longer able to fight,” stressed Palabay.
KARAPATAN also denounced the recent “fact-finding mission” in Toboso conducted by a group considered as government mercenaries, or what international NGOs consider as government organized NGOs or GONGOs.
“This group is nothing but a mouthpiece of the AFP and the NTF-ELCAC and was probably given unhampered access to the place of the incident to disturb the crime scene. Their presence also serves to harass the communities, and intimidate potential witnesses.” Palabay said.
Malacañang, for its part, stated that it will not interfere in the investigation to be conducted by the Commission on Human Rights, adding that those found liable will be held accountable.
KARAPATAN underscored that past experience leaves no reason for confidence in official investigations that have failed to deliver justice to victims. “It is deeply hypocritical for the Marcos Jr. regime to make such pronouncements, when it implements its counter-insurgency programs, the National Action Plan on Unity, Peace and Development (NAP-UPD) that outlines how State security forces should commit violations of human rights and international humanitarian law,” Palabay concluded.
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KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign. It was established in 1995.