A student leader from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman was among those killed during a clash in Toboso, Negros Occidental on Sunday.

The UP Diliman University Student Council (USC) confirmed the death of Alyssa Alano, its Education and Research councilor, who was in the area for a community visit when the incident occurred.

According to the USC, Alano died while members of the 79th Infantry Battalion under the 3rd Infantry Division allegedly opened fire on a community in Barangay Salamanca.

The council said the incident took place on April 19 and displaced at least 168 families, or around 653 individuals.

“Noong Abril 19, walang habas na pinaulanan ng bala ng 79th Infantry Batallion ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ang Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental kung saan halos 168 na pamilya at 653 na mga indibidwal ang napilitang magbakwit sa kanilang mga tahanan,” the USC said in a statement.

The council said Alano was in the community to study local conditions amid what it described as heightened militarization.

The UP Diliman USC also condemned the incident.

“Lubos ding tinututulan ng UP Diliman USC ang karumaldumal at paulit-ulit na paglabag ng reaksyunaryong gobyerno at ng kanilang mga mersenaryo sa karapatang pantao ng mamamayan ng Negros at maging sa mga aktibistang sumasandig sa laban ng masang api,“ it said.

It also expressed condolences to her family and called for justice.

“Nagluluksa ang konseho at buong komunidad ng UP sa pagkawala ni Alyssa. Mahigpit ding nakikiramay ang konseho sa kanyang mga naiwang pamilya, kaibigan, at mahal sa buhay,” the statement read.

The Philippine Army, however, maintained that the incident was a legitimate encounter between government troops and members of the New People's Army (NPA).

In its report released Monday, the military said 19 alleged NPA members were killed during the clash in Toboso, including a journalist based in Bacolod City and Alano.