US citizen among Negros clash deaths, says NTF-ELCAC

A reported US citizen of Filipino descent was among those killed in what the military called an encounter in Toboso, Negros Occidental, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said Friday.

The government’s anti-insurgency task force “expresses its highest concern and deepest condolences to the family of the reported American citizen of Filipino descent who was among those killed in the recent armed encounters.”

“Initial information reaching authorities indicates that the 40-year-old individual was from California and was reportedly linked to Anakbayan-USA, a matter that must likewise be established through proper verification,” the NTF-ELCAC said

The task force noted that “full identification and circumstances remain subject to proper verification.”

GMA News Online reached out to the US Embassy for comment and will publish it once available.

On Monday, the Philippine Army reported 19 alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a series of encounters with government troops in Barangay Salamanca.

However, NPA’s Apolinario Gatmaitan Command disputed the military’s account, saying that only a small number of those killed were armed fighters and that some of them were civilians.

The civilians killed in the military operation included local farmer Roel Sabillo and Bacolod-based journalist RJ Ledesma, the rebel group said.

On Wednesday, the UP Diliman University Student Council (USC) said that student leader Alyssa Alano was also among the fatalities in the incident.

Philippine Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala maintained that soldiers from the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) acted professionally and in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. — AOL, GMA News