04/26/2026
Migrante Canada
April 25, 2026
JUSTICE FOR THE NEGROS 19 AND THE 653 DISPLACED INDIVIDUALS IN NEGROS! END MILITARIZATION IN NEGROS NOW! DEFEND NEGROS!
Migrante Canada strongly condemns the fascist Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the leadership of the son of the former dictator and also a fascist himself, Marcos Jr, for their continued indiscriminate attacks against the people of Negros.
As overseas Filipinos here in Canada, we remain deeply connected to the realities and struggles of our people in the Philippines.
Beginning April 19th, the AFP carried out strafing and bombing operations in Brgy. Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental resulting in the forced displacement of at least 653 individuals from 168 households and killing 19 individuals – a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law.
Among those massacred by the state forces were RJ Ledesma, people’s journalist and poet, Alyssa Alano, student and peasant organizer, Errol Wendel Chen, cultural worker and community researcher, Maureen Keil Santuyo, youth agrarian reform advocate and a peasant organizer, and Lyle Prijoles, a human rights advocate from the United States.
We firmly reject the AFP’s claim that this was an “armed encounter” with the New People’s Army. The long history of violence and disinformation by the AFP against the Filipino people have repeatedly shown that their claims cannot be taken at face value. Time and again, they have acted in defending the landlords and foreign corporations whom are responsible for the continued displacement of the people in Negros and contributing to the conditions that force millions of Filipinos to migrate.
We recognize that this tragedy is part of a deeper, systemic crisis. The killings in Toboso reflect the escalating militarization and repression in Negros and across the Philippines. Human rights group Karapatan has documented at least 52 killings in Negros between July 2022 and December 2025 under the Marcos Jr. administration.
Rather than addressing the urgent needs of the people—especially in the midst of the ongoing oil and energy crisis—the government continues to allocate billions in public funds toward militarization, fueling violence against its own citizens, particularly those who are most outspoken about these issues. Meanwhile, those in power who are responsible for corruption and its far-reaching impacts continue to evade accountability, despite their role in sustaining both direct and structural violence.
Migrante Canada joins the global call in demanding swift justice for all victims, including those who were displaced, and an immediate end to the militarization in Negros. Migrante Canada also joins the global demand for accountability from the AFP and from the US-Marcos administration.
We call on our fellow Filipinos and allies to join us in demanding justice and in pushing for an urgent, independent, and impartial investigation into the Philippine military operation that claimed many lives.
JUSTICE FOR NEGROS 19! END THE MILITARIZATION IN NEGROS NOW! DEFEND NEGROS! UPHOLD INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW!
