APRIL 23, 2026 — Alyssa Alano, a UP Diliman student leader, was among the 19 people killed in what the military calls a clash with NPA rebels in Toboso, Negros Occidental. Her death has sparked outrage, grief, and renewed debate over militarization, human rights, and the long-running insurgency in the Philippines.

On April 19, 2026, soldiers from the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army engaged in a 12-hour firefight in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental. The Army reported that 19 alleged NPA members were killed, including a commander with a ₱1-million bounty. One soldier was wounded. The military hailed the dismantling of the Northern Negros Front as a major victory.

But the UP Diliman University Student Council (USC) disputes this narrative. They say the Army “indiscriminately rained bullets” on the community, forcing 168 families (653 individuals) to evacuate. Among those killed was Alyssa Alano, the USC’s Education and Research councilor, described as an innocent civilian who was in Negros to study and live with farmers.

Who was Alyssa Alano?

Alano was not just a student; she was a leader, activist, and advocate for marginalized communities. She served as a councilor in the USC and was also active in the League of Filipino Students. Her peers remember her as hard-working, loving, and deeply committed to understanding the struggles of farmers facing land grabbing and militarization.

The UP Office of the Student Regent expressed “matinding dalamhati” (deep grief) over her death, condemning what they called a “pasistang militar” (fascist military) attack.

Voices of grief and outrage

The incident has drawn condemnation beyond UP. 

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza issued a pastoral letter lamenting the deaths, saying,

“Violence does not arise in a vacuum. It takes root where poverty persists, where injustice is endured, where trust between people and institutions has been broken.”

Local officials reported shock among residents, with children traumatized by the prolonged gunfire. Evacuees remain in temporary shelters, awaiting clearance to return home.

This tragedy highlights the deep divide in narratives: the military frames it as a decisive strike against insurgents, while student groups and rights advocates see it as state violence against civilians. The question now is not just about who fired the shots, but about the cost of militarization in communities already burdened by poverty and displacement.

The clash in Negros is not an isolated event — it is part of a long-running cycle of violence between the state and insurgent groups, where civilians often pay the highest price.

How many more young lives must be lost before we confront the real roots of this conflict — poverty, injustice, and broken trust between the people and the state?

(Image: UP Diliman University Student Council | Facebook)