Calling the incident “one of the most important human rights cases” under the current presidency, a labor rights NGO challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr today to order an impartial investigation into the military offensives in Toboso, Negros Occidental on April 19 that left 19 individuals dead.

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) said that the Negros 19 case is important not only because of the high number of casualties, but also because of possibly important lessons about upholding human rights in relation to the government’s counter-insurgency operations.

“We dare President Marcos: order an impartial investigation into this case. Many human rights violations in the country have been committed in the name of fighting the insurgency, and the Negros 19 case is potentially instructive in shedding light on these violations and making a statement about these,” said Kamz Deligente, CTUHR executive director.

The military claims that what transpired was a legitimate encounter with the rebel group New People’s Army (NPA) while the NPA, regional news outlets, human rights organizations and friends and relatives of those who were killed claim that many of the dead were not armed and were in fact progressive activists who are working with farmers in the area.

“The government needs to make a major statement about differentiating activists belonging to legal organizations from combatants belonging to armed organizations. It should make a major declaration, especially to its military, about upholding human rights in relation to activists, even as it upholds international humanitarian law in relation to combatants,” Deligente added.

Among those killed are RJ Ledesma, a community journalist in Negros; Alyssa Alano, a student leader; Mau Santuyo, a peasant advocate; and Errol Wendel, an organizer of agricultural workers and a researcher. Alano is a student of the University of the Philippines while Santuyo is a graduate of that university.

“There are indications that the military grabbed what it perceived as an opportunity to attack rebels and attack activists as well. While this is not the first time, this is a major case that cries out for truth, accountability, and hopefully lessons for the state’s security forces,” Deligente said.

CTUHR said that all individuals, personalities, organizations and political forces in the country that defend human rights, regardless of political inclination or affiliation, should speak out about the Negros 19 case and at the very least demand an impartial investigation into their deaths.

“On social media, we are again seeing trolls and military-aligned influencers laughing at the dead and even baying for more blood. This clearly illustrates how the government’s counter-insurgency campaign is laying to waste human decency, respect for human dignity and rights, and democracy,” Deligente stated.