UP Diliman committee condemns killing of student in Negros clash

The University of the Philippines Diliman Committee on the Protection of Academic Freedom and Human Rights (CPAFHR) are seeking justice over the death of a student leader, who was slain with 18 others in a clash in Toboso, Negros Occidental.

"The [CPAFHR] of UP Diliman condemns the killing of incumbent [University Student Council] councilor Alyssa Alano, a political science student of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy," it said in a statement.

Alano was among the fatalities in what the Armed Forces of the Philippines called an encounter with suspected communist rebels on April 19. The military also confirmed the death of community journalist RJ Nichole Ledesma and Community journalist RJ Nichole Ledesma and the "elusive and notorious" rebel leader Roger Fabillar.

"We call on the Philippine government to account for the death of Alyssa and the other Toboso killings, among them an alumnus of UP Open University and a community journalist," the UP Diliman CPAFHR said.

"We demand the conduct of a transparent and impartial investigation into their killings, and give human rights organizations and response teams access to information and resources in order to launch their own."

It added that as a "non-combatant,"Alano and her companions "should have been secured by humanitarian law and protocol, even during active operations."

Altermidya also mourned the death of Ledesma, their colleage. The outlet said that he was in the area for community work and immersion reporting on the effects of renewable energy projects. 

In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that it launched an operation following reports from civilians on the presence of armed elements in the area. They engaged the group at around 3:58 a.m., resulting in "running firefights throughout the day."

According to Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco, 168 families in Barangays Salamanca and San Jose were evacuated following the clash.

The AFP added that the operation was "conducted in accordance with established rules of engagement and with full regard for civilian safety."

It also maintained that the 19 individuals killed were not civilians. "Recent calims circulating on social media that those killed in the encounter in Toboso, Negros Occidental were merely researchers, journalists, student leaders, and social owrkers—and that the PA violated human rights and International Humanitarian Law—deserve closer scrutiny rather than outright acceptance," PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said, as per the Philippine News Agency.