The United Church of Canada calls for justice, resumption of peace talks, and to re-examine the Canada-Philippine military relationship.
The United Church of Canada is appalled by reports that Philippine military operations conducted by the 79th Infantry Battalion killed 19 people and forcibly displaced 653 residents from 168 households in peasant communities in Negros Island on April 19, 2026.
We are gravely concerned about these alleged violations of international human rights. Together with the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP), we strongly support the call to launch an immediate, independent, and impartial investigation into this incident.
We mourn the deaths of 19 people, including: Roel Sobillo, a farmer; RJ Nichole Ledesma, a journalist and cultural worker; and Alyssa Alano, an education and research councillor at the University of the Philippines Diliman.
The Philippine Army’s official position that all casualties were members of a “communist terrorist group” must be seriously scrutinized. Many young people, like Alyssa, visit rural areas to learn about marginalized communities and to engage in solidarity work—not as combatants. The University of Philippines Diliman Student Council stated: “Alyssa lived and studied among our farmer brothers and sisters in Negros to understand their true conditions in the face of land grabbing, exploitation, and militarization.”
“As long as the root causes of poverty remain unresolved, there will be more like Alyssa who are willing to study society and fight for a society free from exploitation. The spirit of Alano will never fade among the ranks of Iskolar ng Bayan, who will further strengthen unity to ultimately defeat an oppressive and exploitative social system,” they added.
A proper investigation must be conducted, and justice must be served.
Standing in Solidarity
We call on the Government of Canada to:
- Suspend the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between Canada and the Philippines. Given this incident, the values upheld by many Canadians do not align themselves with these actions, which may have violated international human rights.
- Encourage the Government of the Philippines (GRP) to prioritize human rights and support the resumption of peace negotiations between the GRP and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
- Audit its financial, programmatic, and military support to the Philippines to ensure it does not contribute to human rights abuses.
We believe Canada’s public encouragement and diplomatic efforts can play a critical role in advancing peace and justice in the Philippines.
Take Action
Sign an E-Petition
ICHRP Canada (opens in a new tab)has initiated a House of Commons E-petition of Canada’s Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with the Philippines (SOVFA). It calls on the Government of Canada to suspend the agreement. Under SOVFA, Canada could deploy Canadian troops to the Philippines. This risks Canadian soldiers becoming involved in the government’s counter-insurgency campaign, and Canada being complicit in the gross human rights violations associated with it. Cooperating with the Philippine Armed Forces risks binding Canada’s reputation to an establishment that is accused of corruption.
People of the United Church are encouraged to read and sign the petition(opens in a new tab).
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