A STUDENT-LEADER from the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and a community journalist were among those killed during a military operation conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) 79th Infantry Battalion in Brgy. Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental on April 19.
19 casualties, including civilians, were reported in an encounter between AFP troops and rebel remnants of the Northern Negros Front of the New People’s Army (NPA). Reports also noted the displacement of 653 residents from 168 peasant households due to the clash.
The UPD University Student Council confirmed that Councilor Alyssa Alano was among those killed in the ensuing clash. She had been living and engaging closely with farming communities in the region.
“Nakipamuhay at nakipag-aralan si Alyssa sa hanay ng mga kapatid nating magsasaka mula sa Negros upang alamin ang kanilang tunay na kalagayan sa harap ng pangangamkam sa lupa, pagsasamantala, at militarisasyon,” its statement read.
Authorities also reported the death of RJ Nichole Ledesma, a writer-editor for the local alternative media outfit Pahimutad-Negros and regional coordinator of Altermidya in Negros Island. Altermidya said that Ledesma was in the area conducting an immersion on the effects of renewable energy projects on vulnerable farmer communities.
University-based and activist groups condemned the killings, ultimately calling for accountability over the red-tagging of activists and the continued rights violations by the military.
Among those who issued a statement was the League of Filipino Students (LFS), of which both Alano and Ledesma were members.
“The League rejects the narrative perpetuated by state-sponsored troll farms and organizations under the NTF-ELCAC that seek to justify their deaths through posthumous red-tagging and vilification,” the group said.
Rights group KARAPATAN denounced the focused military operation, citing the “potential massacre and other grave violations of human rights and International Humanitarian Law” of at least 19 individuals.
“Whether they are civilians or combatants, the sheer number of those killed triggers significant questions on the conduct of the operations including use of proportionate force, the steps taken to minimize casualties, and compliance with IHL and human rights,” said KARAPATAN secretary-general Cristina Palabay.
Since 2018, the region has been placed under a state of lawless violence through Memorandum Order No. 32 issued by then-President Rodrigo Duterte, prompting intensified militarization efforts through increased military and police presence.
The AFP has yet to release a comprehensive investigation report on the victims of incident as of writing, while calls for an independent probe and potential rights violations continue to mount.