MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines (UP) has expressed its condolences and called for public restraint following the deaths of two students, Alyssa Alano and Maureen Santuyo, in a military encounter in Toboso, Negros Occidental, on April 19, 2026.
In a statement released on Monday, April 27, and reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on April 29, 2026, the university urged the public to withhold judgment regarding the students’ presence in “underserved communities.”
The university’s statement emphasized the importance of social engagement beyond academic requirements:
- The Quote: “No UP student is limited to lessons learned within the classroom,” the university stated, defending the students’ rights to exercise their constitutionally protected freedoms and promote social awareness.
- Community Work: Initial reports suggest that Alano and Santuyo were participating in community-based activities organized by their respective student groups rather than official university programs.
- University Stance: UP reaffirmed its commitment to remaining a “beacon of critical thinking, conscience, and courage.”
The two students were among 19 fatalities in a series of clashes between the 79th Infantry Battalion and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members:
- Alyssa Alano (22): A Political Science student at UP Diliman and an education and research councilor for the University Student Council. She was also a former chairperson of the League of Filipino Students (LFS).
- Maureen Santuyo (24): An Associate of Arts student at the UP Open University (UPOU) and a member of the National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates (NNARA)-Youth.
The military maintains that all 19 fatalities were combatants, while some advocacy groups and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) assert that several, including the students and a community journalist, were civilians or non-combatants.
The university has facilitated the return of the students’ remains to their families and has joined calls for a transparent investigation:
- CHR Investigation: UP expressed support for the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in conducting an independent and impartial probe into the clash.
- Faculty Response: The UP Department of Political Science faculty expressed “anger” over the “brutality” of the deaths, describing Alano as a “life full of promise” unjustly ended.
- Other Casualties: The encounter also claimed the lives of two Filipino American activists, Kai Sorem and Lyle Prijoles, as well as community journalist RJ Nichole Ledesma.
The incident has reignited national debate over the “red-tagging” of students and the risks faced by youth advocates conducting immersion programs in rural agrarian communities.