The Toboso Local Government Unit (LGU) stated that the University of the Philippines (UP) did not conduct a courtesy call regarding students’ immersion in the area, following the encounter between the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA), where 19 individuals died.

In a statement released by the Municipality of Toboso PIO Albertito Morados, he noted that no student from the university consulted the barangay or municipal office to seek permission to conduct a study.

“Sa pagkakaalam natin, wala po talagang isang estudyante na pumunta sa barangay man lang o sa munisipyo, parang process of courtesy call na magpahayag na meron silang gagawing instrumental study,” he said

[“As far as we know, not a single student approached the barangay or the municipality for a courtesy call to say that they will be conducting an instrumental study.”]

Among those killed in the encounter in Toboso last April 19, 2026, was Alyssa Alano, a councilor of the University Student Council (USC) at the University of the Philippines (UP).

According to the statement issued by the UP Diliman University Student Council, Alyssa lived with farmers to understand their actual living conditions.

“Nakipamuhay at nakipag-aralan si Alyssa sa hanay ng mga kapatid nating magsasaka mula sa Negros upang alamin ang kanilang tunay na kalagayan sa harap ng pangangamkam sa lupa, pagsasamantala, at militarisasyon,” based on the statement of the campus organization

[“Alyssa lived and studied with our fellow farmers in Negros to understand their true situation amid land grabbing, exploitation, and militarization.”]

UP Diliman - Committee on the Protection of Academic Freedom and Human Rights (CPAFHR) calls on the Philippine government to conduct a transparent and impartial investigation into the death of Alyssa and other individuals in the Toboso clash incident.

“We demand the conduct of a transparent and impartial investigation into their killings, and give human rights organizations and response teams access to information and resources in order to launch their own,” they said

With reports from Allan Manansala