Another UP student among Negros 'clash' fatalities

The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) has confirmed that one of its students was among those killed in what the military called an encounter in Toboso, Negros Occidental.

In a statement on Saturday, the UPOU identified the student as Maureen Keil Santuyo, an Associate of Arts student.

The UPOU described Santuyo as a “compassionate youth advocate” who was actively engaged in supporting marginalized agrarian communities.

“The University also expresses concerns over circumstances surrounding the military encounter. We call for a transparent and thorough investigation, with full accountability if human rights violations are established,” it said.

“We urge sobriety in public discourse, especially in instances that promote the spread of unverified accusations and the labeling of members of the academic community without evidence,” it added.

The Philippine Army reported on April 20 said that 19 alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a series of encounters with government troops in Barangay Salamanca on April 19.

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.

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

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said that two US citizens were also killed in the operation.

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