Manila, May 9 -- Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Friday reiterated his support for the Philippine Army, saying that the pursuit of the New People's Army (NPA) remnants in Toboso town on April 19 was a legitimate military operation.

The armed encounter in Barangay Salamanca led to the death of 19 individuals identified as NPA members, among them the special operations chief of the dismantled Northern Negros Front, Roger Fabillar Tapang, who had a PHP1 million reward for his arrest.

"We believe that it was a legitimate encounter. I think we should also realize that the Army could not have done that without information from the community. Clearly, the community helped guide the Philippine Army to run after their target," ...