The University of the Philippines Diliman University Student Council (USC) has confirmed the death of Councilor Alyssa Alano during a community visit in Toboso, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, April 19, in an incident that the military described as an encounter with suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
In a statement, the USC said Alano was in the area to document the situation of residents affected by intensified military operations.
The council alleged that her death resulted from indiscriminate strafing by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), a claim that remains unverified.
Alano also served as chair of the UP Diliman chapter of the League of Filipino Students and was known for her advocacy for marginalized sectors.
“Nagluluksa ang konseho at buong komunidad ng UP sa pagkawala ni Alyssa. Mahigpit ding nakikiramay ang konseho sa kanyang mga naiwang pamilya, kaibigan, at mahal sa buhay,” the USC said.
Earlier, the USC had raised alarm over reported military offensives in Toboso, which allegedly forced around 600 families to evacuate.
AFP reported that 19 suspected rebels, including journalist RJ Ledesma, were killed in what authorities described as an armed encounter between government troops and NPA members.
As of posting, the AFP has yet to release specific information on the circumstances of Alano’s death, as well as on several other fatalities who have been alleged by some groups to be non-combatants.
The incident remains under investigation, with differing accounts from involved parties.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.