MANILA, Philippines — The United States Embassy in Manila has issued a security alert following the deaths of two American citizens in a clash between the Philippine Army and alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Toboso, Negros Occidental, on April 19, 2026. The embassy warned Americans to avoid rural and mountainous areas in Leyte, Mindoro, Negros, and Samar, citing heightened security risks.

The fatalities were identified as Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem, both Filipino Americans who reportedly arrived in the Philippines in late March before traveling to Negros Occidental. The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) confirmed their deaths, describing the incident as a “disturbing convergence” of foreign nationals in a live combat setting. “These facts point to a disturbing convergence: foreign nationals in a live combat setting, where the risks are immediate and the consequences irreversible,” NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Ernesto Torres Jr. said.

The US Embassy emphasized that the NPA is designated a foreign terrorist organization by both the US and Philippine governments. “Anyone in proximity of NPA elements is at grave risk of arrest, injury, or death. Foreign terrorist organizations actively recruit Americans to participate directly in terrorist activities and/or provide financial support,” the embassy said in its advisory. It urged US citizens to avoid affiliations with insurgent groups and to immediately leave areas where armed individuals not linked to police or military forces are present.

The April 19 encounter in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, left 19 people dead, including the two Americans, and involved members of the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion. The military reported recovering firearms and arresting fleeing suspects, while one soldier was wounded. The NPA’s Apolinario Gatmaitan Command disputed the government’s account, claiming that some of those killed were civilians, including a local farmer, a Bacolod-based journalist, and a student leader from UP Diliman.

In the United States, a vigil was held outside the Philippine Consulate in New York to honor Prijoles and Sorem, with participants describing them as activists and cultural workers. Anakbayan-USA, a militant organization, disputed the government’s claim that they were combatants, saying they were engaged in community work and advocacy. “He [Prijoles] was a well-loved community member who for decades was involved with the Filipino community… and human rights advocacy groups,” Anakbayan-USA said in a statement.

The incident has sparked calls for further investigation, with human rights groups questioning the circumstances of the clash. Meanwhile, the US Embassy reiterated its advice for Americans planning humanitarian work in the Philippines to coordinate only with registered organizations and local government units to ensure safety and proper documentation.

This deadly encounter underscores the risks faced by foreign nationals in conflict zones and highlights the ongoing volatility in parts of Negros Occidental, where government forces continue operations against insurgent groups. The official US advisory remains in effect, urging vigilance and avoidance of high-risk areas.