04/05/2026
𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐄.
Last April 19, 2026, alarming news emerged from Toboso, Negros Occidental, where a military operation conducted by the 79th Infantry Battalion resulted in the deaths of 19 individuals, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent decades. Among those killed was Alyssa Alano, a student leader who chose to stand with marginalized sectors and dedicated herself to public service beyond the university, particularly among farming communities.
Negros Occidental has long endured a history of violence and repression. For decades, farmers in the province have faced systemic issues such as land inequality, deepening poverty, and the absence of adequate social support. Instead of addressing these root causes, militarization continues to dominate. This reliance on force endangers the very civilians it claims to protect. The presence of student leaders, journalists, peasant advocates, and community members in these areas is increasingly treated as a threat, rather than recognized as a genuine effort to understand and respond to the realities faced by the people.
The deaths of the 19 individuals in Toboso raise urgent concerns about the safety of people who choose to serve, advocate, document, and stand alongside marginalized communities. While the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) claimed that all 19 were members of the New People’s Army (NPA), this has been challenged by rights groups, journalists, and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which identified only 10 as NPA members, including Negros Commander Roger Fabillar, also known as Ka Tapang; Sonny Boy Caramihan; Rene Villarin Sr., squad leader; Arnel Javoc; Pedro Bonghanoy, medical officer; Jocel Gimang; Joros Caramihan; Maria Clarita Branzuel Blanco, also known as Ka Sanim/Pat who served as a political instructor; Genevieve Balora or Ka Raia, the district party cadre; and Labskie Purisimia Enustacion, while asserting that the remaining nine were civilians. Among the nine identified as civilians were two minors (a 15-year-old resident of Brgy, Salamanca, Toboso and a 17-year-old resident of Brgy. Lalong, Calatrava) whose names were withheld; Roel Sabillo of Brgy. Tabunac, Toboso; student council leader Alyssa Alano, from the University of the Philippines Diliman; community journalist RJ Nichole Ledesma of Pahimutad Negros; Maureen Keil Santuyo of the National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates Youth (NNARA-Youth); Errol Wendel of the Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA); Filipino-American Lyle Prijoles from San Francisco and council member of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines; and Kai Sorem from Washington, USA, and founding officer of Anakbayan Seattle. These conflicting accounts underscore the urgent need for an independent and credible investigation to determine the full circumstances surrounding their deaths and ensure accountability at all levels of command.
The long history of violence associated with military operations reflects a troubling pattern, one that prioritizes force over accountability. This is further reinforced by statements from Vice President Sara Duterte, who commended the operation despite unresolved questions and abuse. Such pronouncements signal support for militarized approaches while sidelining the urgent need for transparency, justice, and respect for human rights. Under the current administration, this pattern raises serious concerns about the safety of individuals engaged in public service across communities and undermines efforts to address the real needs of the Filipino people.
We therefore demand that what has been presented as an “armed encounter” be subjected to a genuinely independent, transparent, and credible investigation. Evidence must be preserved, facts must be established, and all those responsible across all levels of command must be held accountable.
As Iskolar ng Bayan, students are called not only to learn within the classroom but to engage with the realities of every community. Alyssa embodied this commitment through her immersion and service. Her life reminds us that there is more to these issues than the narrow narratives often presented. There exists a broader and more complex chain of struggles, one that demands grassroots immersion, solidarity, and collective humanity.
Justice for Toboso 19.
Justice for the farmers of Negros.
Justice for all victims of violence.
