Hear Me Out

The Communist Party of the Philippines confirmed that University Student Council Councilor Alyssa Alano and community journalist RJ Ledesma were civilians, following a wide disinformation campaign by the Armed Forces of the Philippines branding both as slain members of the New People’s Army.

Alano and Ledesma are among 19 individuals killed as the AFP conducted a counter-insurgency strafing operation that displaced around 663 residents in Toboso, Negros Occidental, Sunday. While information is still being gathered on ground, at least five were verified as civilians by the CPP in an email exchange with the Collegian.

Alano was a BA Political Science student at UP Diliman, where she also served as education and research councilor of the USC. Meanwhile, Ledesma wrote for Paghimutad, an alternative media outlet and member of the Altermidya network. Both were in Negros Occidental for community integration and research regarding the situation of peasants in the area.

READ: https://phkule.substack.com/p/alano-ledesma-are-civilians-not-npa