UP student among those killed in Negros Occidental 'clash'

A student leader from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman was among the 19 killed in what the military called an encounter with New People's Army rebels in Toboso, Negros Occidental on Sunday, the UP Diliman University Student Council (USC) said.

In a statement on Wednesday, the UP Diliman USC said Alyssa Alano, the USC’s Education and Research councilor, was among those who died when the 79th Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division allegedly fired on a community in Barangay Salamanca in Toboso. 

“Noong Abril 19, walang habas na pinaulanan ng bala ng 79th Infantry Batallion ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ang Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental kung saan halos 168 na pamilya at 653 na indibidwal ang napilitang magbakwit sa kanilang mga tahanan,” the statement read.

(On April 19, the 79th Infantry Battalion of the AFP indiscriminately rained bullets on Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental, forcing almost 168 families and 653 individuals to evacuate their homes.) 

The statement did not refer to the incident as an encounter.

“Kaugnay nito, ibinabalita ng UP Diliman University Student Council na isa sa mga nasawi ang ating kapwa Iskolar ng Bayan na si USC Councilor Alyssa Alano dahil sa pasistant atake at panunupil ng militar sa Negros.” 

(In connection with this, the UP Diliman University Student Council reports that one of those killed was our fellow Iskolar ng Bayan, USC Councilor Alyssa Alano, due to the fascist attack and military repression in Negros.) 

On Monday, the Philippine Army reported that 19 alleged members of the NPA were killed in an encounter with the 79th Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division in Barangay Salamanca in Toboso, Negros Occidental the day before.

"Nineteen NPAs were killed, dismantling the Northern Negros Front, and one of our troops was wounded with a minor injury and is now in stable condition,” said Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala. 

The UP Diliman University Student Council’s statement condemned the killing of Alano, calling her an “innocent civilian.” 

“Nakipamuhay at nakipag-aralan si Alyssa sa hanay ng mga kapatid nating magsasaka mula sa Negros upang alamin ang kanilang tunay na kalagayan sa harap ng pangangamkam ng lupa, pagsasamantala, at militarisasyon,” it added. 

(Alyssa lived and studied with the ranks of farmers from Negros to find out their real conditions amid the seizure of their land and militarization.) 

The UP Diliman University Student Council also described Alano as a hard-working, loving, and excellent student-leader. 

For its part, the UP Office of the Student Regent expressed its sympathies over Alano’s death.

“Ipinapahayag ng UP Office of the Student Regent ang matinding dalamhati at pag-alaala sa balita ng pagpaslang ng pasistang militar kay Alyssa Alano, mag-aaral ng UP Diliman at konsehal ng UP Diliman University Student Council,” it said in a separate statement.

(The UP Office of the Student Regent expresses its deep condolences and concern over reports of the military’s killing of Alyssa Alano, student of UP Diliman and councilor of the UP Diliman University Student Council.) 

GMA News Online has reached out to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for comment on the statements made by the UP Diliman University Student Council and Office of the Student Regent. — JMA, GMA News