A Filipino-American was among the casualties in last Sunday’s bloodbath in Toboso, Negros Occidental, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-USA (BAYAN-USA) revealed.
Lyle Prijoles, 40-years old and a human rights advocate from California, was among the several civilians killed in the incident, the group’s announcement said, also confirming earlier reports of a foreign national as among the slain.
“BAYAN USA and Filipinos across the United States extend our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Lyle, and join them in righteous fury at his unjust murder,” the group said.
Like journalist RJ Nichole Ledesma, University of the Philippines student councilor Alyssa Alano and peasant organizers and advocates Maureen Santuyo and Errol Wendel, Prijoles was slain by “indiscriminate firing and strafing” by government soldiers, it added.
BAYAN-USA said the Prijoles was a well-loved person whose involvement with the Californian Filipino community started through his parents’ Filipino restaurant, student clubs in college, arts and cultural organizations, and human rights advocacy groups.
The victim was a Journalism and Asian-American Studies graduate of the San Francisco State University who strove to take his education beyond the classroom to listen to and uplift the stories of marginalized communities, group said.
“After graduating, his advocacy work eventually brought him back home to the Philippines on several occasions to learn directly from communities facing poverty, hunger, natural disasters, and oppression. This spring, Lyle chose to visit the Philippines once more to live with communities in Negros and learn first-hand their daily hardships and experiences under state repression,” BAYAN-USA said.
The group said it demands an immediate and independent investigation into the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ claim of a 12-hour gun battle where all the 19 casualties were New People’s Army (NPA) fighters.
The NPA earlier said only a small group of fighters were involved in the incident and some of the victims were civilians, including Ledesma, Alano, Santuyo and Wendel.
The incident displaced 653 residents from 168 families and caused an additional 200 residents living between Escalante City and Toboso to flee.
BAYAN-USA said it also demands an end to US government funding and military support for the Philippine government.
“No Filipino abroad who wants to return home to our motherland and stand with the most marginalized in society should have to fear government attack,” the group said.
US Embassy-Manila’s website has not yet commented on Prijoles’ reported demise. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
