MANILA, April 27, 2026 — Two Filipino Americans and a second University of the Philippines student have been identified among the 19 people killed in the April 19 clash between government troops and alleged New People’s Army (NPA) members in Toboso, Negros Occidental, sparking calls for an independent investigation into the incident.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) confirmed that it has begun an independent probe into the deaths of the so-called “Negros 19,” who were killed during a military operation in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso. The fatalities included activists, students, and alleged NPA members, raising concerns about human rights violations and the conduct of the armed forces.

Among those identified were Kai Dana-Rene Sorem, a 26-year-old Filipino American raised in Steilacoom, Washington, and founding officer of Anakbayan South Seattle. According to Anakbayan-USA, Sorem returned to the Philippines earlier this year “to deepen her knowledge of her country and culture through learning the language and serving peasant farming communities.”

Another casualty was Lyle Prijoles, a 40-year-old Filipino American human rights advocate from San Francisco, California. Bayan-USA described him as “a well-loved member of the Filipino community” who was immersing with farming communities in Negros to understand their struggles for land and justice. Prijoles studied Journalism and Asian-American Studies and was known for uplifting marginalized voices.

The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) confirmed that Maureen Keil Santuyo, an Associate of Arts student, was also among the fatalities. Her death follows that of Alyssa Alano, a UP Diliman student leader and Education and Research Councilor, who was earlier identified as one of those killed. UP communities across campuses have since held vigils and protests to honor their slain peers.

Other victims included poet and journalist RJ Nichole Ledesma and community researcher Errol Wendel, alongside alleged NPA leader Roger Fabillar, who reportedly had a ₱1-million bounty on his arrest. The Armed Forces of the Philippines said the operation was a major blow to the NPA’s leadership in the region, but rights groups have questioned whether all those killed were combatants.

The CHR emphasized that its investigation will focus on whether the rights of the slain individuals were respected during the encounter. “We are committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring accountability where violations may have occurred,” the commission said in its statement.

The incident has reignited debates over militarization in Negros, where peasant and activist groups have long accused state forces of targeting civilians under the guise of counterinsurgency. Human rights advocates both in the Philippines and abroad have called for transparency and justice for the victims of the Toboso clash.

This case, now widely referred to as the “Negros 19,” continues to draw national and international attention, with families, universities, and activist organizations demanding answers and accountability.

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