(Philippines, 27th) A Philippine government task force stated that 19 people died, including two American citizens, in a raid targeting a suspected local communist base. The incident has prompted an investigation by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights.
Last week, fighting broke out between government troops and remnants of the communist New People's Army (NPA) near Toboso town on Negros Island in southeastern Philippines.
Authorities told AFP last week that when the fighting occurred on April 19, more than 300 residents of Toboso town were forced to flee their homes.
Only one soldier was injured in the clash, but the high death toll has led to calls for a thorough investigation.
The Philippines National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) released a statement on Saturday (April 25), saying the two slain American citizens were Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem. They had arrived in Negros Occidental Province about a month before being killed.
The statement said: "The task force expresses deep concern over the confirmation of a second American citizen killed in the armed clash on April 19 this year."
The statement added that this brings the number of American citizens killed in the incident to two, and confirmed that all 19 victims were "combatants" of the New People's Army.
On Saturday, Philippine Congresswoman De Lima stated that a young student and a community journalist were among those killed in the raid. "The military operation carried out by the Philippine Army's 79th Infantry Battalion... needs to be investigated immediately."
In response to the Philippine Commission on Human Rights launching an investigation, Army spokesperson Demala said on Sunday that the military "welcomes the investigation, and the evidence will speak for us."
Founded in 1969, the New People's Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), leading one of the world's longest-running communist insurgencies.
The US Embassy in the Philippines has yet to comment.
Authorities told AFP last week that when the fighting occurred on April 19, more than 300 residents of Toboso town were forced to flee their homes.
Only one soldier was injured in the clash, but the high death toll has led to calls for a thorough investigation.
The Philippines National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) released a statement on Saturday (April 25), saying the two slain American citizens were Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem. They had arrived in Negros Occidental Province about a month before being killed.
The statement said: "The task force expresses deep concern over the confirmation of a second American citizen killed in the armed clash on April 19 this year."
The statement added that this brings the number of American citizens killed in the incident to two, and confirmed that all 19 victims were "combatants" of the New People's Army.
On Saturday, Philippine Congresswoman De Lima stated that a young student and a community journalist were among those killed in the raid. "The military operation carried out by the Philippine Army's 79th Infantry Battalion... needs to be investigated immediately."
In response to the Philippine Commission on Human Rights launching an investigation, Army spokesperson Demala said on Sunday that the military "welcomes the investigation, and the evidence will speak for us."
Founded in 1969, the New People's Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), leading one of the world's longest-running communist insurgencies.
The US Embassy in the Philippines has yet to comment.