Defense Secretary Makes Personal Visit to Negros Occidental to Honor Peace Efforts
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. made a personal trip to Negros Occidental on Saturday, May 23, 2026, to directly honor both the provincial government and the soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Visayas Command (VISCOM) for their collaborative and sustained work in combating armed communist insurgency and advancing peace in the region.
The visit covered multiple stops — a high-level meeting at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City with Governor Eugenio Jose V. “Bong” Lacson and 6th District Representative Mercedes K. Alvarez, followed by troop visits to two AFP units: the 79th Infantry Battalion in Sagay City and the 15th Infantry Battalion in the Municipality of Cauayan.
Meeting at the Provincial Capitol with Governor and Representative
At the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, Secretary Teodoro sat down with Governor Lacson and Representative Alvarez to recognize the province’s active engagement in localized peace mechanisms and civilian reintegration programs aimed at facilitating the return of former rebels to mainstream society.
The Defense Secretary, according to the DND’s official statement, stressed that military force alone is insufficient to permanently end armed insurgency. He underscored the indispensable role of local government units (LGUs) in sustaining peace at the community level — a role that national-level negotiations and top-down approaches cannot fully replicate.
Secretary Teodoro further assured the provincial leadership that the AFP’s support for Negros Occidental extends beyond counterinsurgency operations. Given the continuing volcanic activity of Mt. Kanlaon, which remains an active threat to surrounding communities within the province, the DND chief pledged the AFP’s readiness to assist in disaster response and community rehabilitation efforts as well.
Secretary Teodoro Explains Dual Approach to Ending the Communist Insurgency
During his visit, Secretary Teodoro elaborated on the government’s two-pronged strategy for dealing with the armed communist threat — a combination of military suppression of active armed elements and civilian reintegration for those who voluntarily abandon the insurgent cause.
Speaking in Filipino, the Secretary stated: “Ang aming pwedeng gawin talaga ay masugpo ‘yung armado. Pero over and above that, ang ating mga sundalo ay tinatanggap ang mga returning rebels katulong ng local government.” This translates roughly to: “What we can truly do is suppress the armed elements. But over and above that, our soldiers are receiving the returning rebels with the help of the local government.”
Teodoro also expressed appreciation for the strong and genuine commitment of the Negros Occidental provincial government and its elected officials, describing them as truly invested in the peace process — not merely supportive in a superficial or ceremonial sense.
“Kaya nga nandito rin ako para i-commend ang provincial government and all the officials of Negros Occidental for their firm stance because they’re also invested in the process,” the Secretary said, as quoted in the DND’s official release.
Teodoro Rejects Claims of Irregularities in Toboso and Cauayan Operations
Secretary Teodoro also used the visit to directly rebut allegations of irregularities surrounding recent AFP military operations in the municipalities of Toboso and Cauayan, which resulted in the deaths of 19 members of an armed communist group. According to the DND, certain sectors have sought to leverage these casualties as grounds for renewing peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
The DND chief firmly rejected this framing, characterizing it as a deliberate propaganda effort by communist sympathizers intended to restore political relevance and a semblance of legitimacy to the designated terrorist organization.
“They are using the tragic death of these 19 as a propaganda tool for them to gain relevance, power, and maybe they seek the status of legitimacy,” Teodoro said. “I’m sorry, it’s not going to fly.”
His remarks reinforce the Marcos administration’s standing policy of pursuing armed communist groups through active security operations, while simultaneously keeping open the door to reintegration for individual members who choose to surrender.
Troops of the 79th and 15th Infantry Battalions Personally Thanked
After his engagements at the Provincial Capitol, Secretary Teodoro proceeded to visit soldiers on the ground. He traveled to the 79th Infantry Battalion in Sagay City and the 15th Infantry Battalion in Cauayan to personally express gratitude to the troops for their continuing service across three key areas: internal security operations against armed insurgents, disaster response work, and community development initiatives.
The DND secretary also used both troop visits to reiterate the department’s commitment to the AFP’s ongoing modernization program. He assured soldiers that even as they carry out their operational duties under demanding conditions, the DND remains fully focused on supporting their welfare, professional growth, and institutional development.
The simultaneous demands placed on VISCOM troops in Negros Occidental — managing active communist armed groups while also responding to the hazards posed by Mt. Kanlaon’s ongoing volcanic activity — illustrate the complex and high-pressure operational environment that soldiers in the province face on a daily basis.
LGU-Military Partnership as a Model for Localized Peacebuilding
The DND’s recognition of the Negros Occidental provincial government’s role in peace efforts reflects a broader national shift toward community-based conflict resolution. With formal national-level peace talks with the CPP-NPA having stalled in recent years, the government has placed greater emphasis on local reintegration programs and municipal-level peace mechanisms as more practical and sustainable alternatives.
Negros Occidental has emerged as one of the provinces where this localized approach has demonstrated measurable results, according to the DND. The provincial government has taken an active role in facilitating reintegration programs for rebel returnees in partnership with AFP units and relevant national agencies.
Secretary Teodoro’s visit signals sustained high-level attention from the DND to the peace and security situation in Negros Occidental, and reflects the administration’s determination to maintain both the military and civilian dimensions of its counterinsurgency campaign across the Visayas region.
About VISCOM and Its Role in the Visayas
The AFP’s Visayas Command (VISCOM) serves as the unified military command overseeing operations across the entire Visayas island group — covering Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas. Its core mandate encompasses internal security operations against armed groups, disaster risk reduction support, and civic action programs benefiting local communities.
Negros Occidental, situated within Western Visayas, has historically been among the provinces where the NPA has maintained an active presence, making it a continuing priority area for VISCOM. The province’s ongoing challenges — armed insurgency and volcanic hazards from Mt. Kanlaon — have necessitated a dual-track response from both military and civilian authorities.
The official DND statement covering Secretary Teodoro’s May 23 visit was released under the authority of Assistant Secretary Arsenio R. Andolong, according to the DND’s public information office.
Originally reported by: Department of National Defense – Public Information Office / DND Philippines
