2 Fil-Ams, 2nd UP student among slain ‘Negros 19’
Two Filipino Americans and a second University of the Philippines (UP) student have been identified as among the “Negros 19”—the fatalities in a series of clashes between government troops and alleged New People’s Army (NPA) members in Taboso town, Negros Occidental, on April 19.
In a statement on Sunday, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), through its office in the Negros Island Region, said it has begun an independent investigation into the clashes.
US-based activist groups identified the Filipino Americans as Kai Sorem and Lyle Prijoles while the UP Open University (UPOU) identified Maureen Keil Santuyo, an Associate of Arts student, as another of the fatalities.
In a statement late Saturday, Anakbayan-USA denounced the killing of the 26-year-old Sorem, who was raised in Steilacoom, Washington.
The group said the founding officer of Anakbayan South Seattle was “one of many Filipino youths who [sought] to understand their roots and the society that forces many Filipinos to migrate, and choose to contribute to change.”
After visiting Cebu years ago where she witnessed the plight of peasants and fisherfolk, Sorem returned to the Philippines this year “to deepen her knowledge of her country and culture through learning the language and serving peasant farming communities,” Anakbayan-USA said.
‘Immersing with communities’
In a Facebook post also on Saturday, Bayan-USA said Lyle Prijoles, “a 40-year-old human rights advocate from San Francisco, California” and a “well-loved member of the Filipino community,” was killed while he was “immersing with communities in Negros to learn firsthand their daily hardships as farmers and their struggle for land and justice.”
“Having studied Journalism and Asian-American Studies, Lyle strove to take his education beyond the classroom, and use it to listen to and uplift the stories of marginalized communities who had the courage to stand for their rights,” the group said.
Both Anakbayan-USA and Bayan-USA demanded justice for the killing of the two Filipino Americans and the other members of the so-called Negros 19, as they pushed for an independent investigation into the April 19 “massacre.”
The UPOU also called for a “transparent and thorough investigation” of the Negros Occidental military encounter, “with full accountability if human rights violations are established.”
In a statement, it said “Ms. Santuyo was known among her peers as a compassionate youth advocate who committed to supporting and working with marginalized agrarian communities.”
UPOU also called for “sobriety in public discourse, especially in instances that promote the spread of unverified accusations and the labeling of members of the academic community without evidence.”
NTF-Elcac weighs in
For the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), the deaths of the two Filipino Americans raised serious concerns, saying that reports indicated the pair arrived in the country separately in late March before traveling to Negros Occidental.
“The presence of two American fatalities in a single encounter should prompt careful reflection on how involvement in certain activities or networks may lead to unintended exposure to dangerous environments,” retired Army Gen. and NTF-Elcac Executive Director Ernesto Torres Jr. said, as he urged Filipino communities abroad to exercise caution in engagements that may expose them to risk.
The Philippine Army has maintained that all 19 individuals killed in the series of encounters with members of the 79th Infantry Battalion were NPA combatants, including ranking rebel figures in northern Negros.
The Army said its operations were “intelligence-driven” and conducted in accordance with the rules of engagement and international humanitarian law, with civilian safety as a priority.
NPA’s claim
The NPA’s Apolinario Gatmaitan Command on Negros Island, however, said that apart from a few fatalities, including squad leader Roger “Ka Jhong” Fabillar, the rest were civilians, including Roel Sabillo, a farmer who was working at his uncle’s property at the time.
Also killed in the April 19 clashes were Alyssa Alano, a peasant organizer and councilor of the UP Diliman University Student Council, and RJ Nichole Ledesma, a cultural worker, journalist and regional coordinator for Altermidya on Negros Island.
Peasant groups Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Tanggol Magsasaka earlier identified Errol Wendel, a community researcher, as one of the fatalities.
The CHR said it is coordinating with civil society groups, local authorities and security forces in efforts to help retrieve the remains of the fatalities.
The CHR also took note of conflicting accounts regarding the identities of the deceased, observing that while the military insists all were combatants, some groups claim that Alano, Ledesma and others were civilians involved in community work.
“Either claim requires thorough, independent verification. In case of doubt, persons shall be presumed civilians,” it said.
It stressed that under international humanitarian law, parties to a conflict must distinguish between civilians and combatants, adding that indiscriminate attacks are prohibited.
‘Root causes’
The CHR further called for a prompt, impartial investigation into alleged violations and accountability where warranted, and raised concerns over reports that more than 100 families were displaced by the clashes.
It urged authorities to ensure humanitarian assistance, protection from further displacement and access to basic services as it called on all parties to fully cooperate with the investigation.
“This incident underscores the continuing human cost of armed conflict, particularly in marginalized communities. Addressing root causes such as poverty, inequality, and land issues remains essential to achieving lasting peace,” the CHR said. —WITH REPORTS FROM LEO UDTOHAN AND PNA
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