BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Youth groups in Negros across various sectors condemned the Armed Forces of the Philippines over the deaths of community journalist RJ Ledesma and 18 others in an April 19 military operation in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental, calling the killings a violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.
In a joint statement, the groups said Ledesma’s death was “no isolated incident” but part of the broader militarization of Negros and the province’s long history of landlessness, poverty and repression.
Ledesma was remembered by the youth organizations as a community journalist, human rights activist, poet and writer who mentored young writers and supported local literary work through poetry, zines and workshops. The groups said he was known for his commitment to documenting the experiences of rural communities.
Meanwhile, at a memorial event held in Bacolod City for Ledesma earlier today, Kabataan Partylist Vice President for Visayas Florence Guzon said young people in Negros were grieving Ledesma’s death with “heaviness, sorrow, pain and anger,” but said the youth movement would continue the work he left behind.
“It is truly difficult to rise from this situation. It is difficult to continue as if nothing happened. But it is even more difficult to abandon where he came from, what he fought for, and the responsibility he left to all of us.,” Guzon said in Hiligaynon.
The groups said they welcomed the Commission on Human Rights’ investigation into the Toboso incident but urged the inquiry to be “true and just.” They also criticized what they described as propaganda vilifying Ledesma and other activists, warning the public not to accept narratives that equate activism with terrorism.
Furthermore, the Negrosanon groups demanded accountability from the military chain of command for what they called “brazen and inhumane killings.”
Photo Source: Negros Pride/Facebook
The statement was signed by more than 60 youth, cultural, student, environmental, media and advocacy organizations, including Mangrove Matters PH, Youth for Climate Hope PH, Dakila-Bacolod, Negros Pride, College Editors Guild of the Philippines-Negros Island Region Chapter, Partido Manggagawa-Kabataan Negros, Kabataan Para Sa Karapatan Negros Oriental and other groups from Negros and the Visayas.
Paghimutad 