MANILA, Philippines — The US Embassy in Manila issued a security alert on Friday, warning Americans of heightened risks in parts of the Philippines following intensified military operations by government forces against communist insurgents.
The embassy noted that US citizens have been present during recent military encounters involving government troops and the NPA. It cited an April 19 armed clash in Toboso that resulted in the deaths of two Americans.
“We advise Americans in the Philippines and around the world to abide by local laws and avoid situations with elevated security risks,” the embassy said.
It noted that the NPA is designated a foreign terrorist organization by both the United States and the Philippines, warning that “anyone in proximity to NPA elements is at grave risk of arrest, injury, or death.”
“The NPA is designated a foreign terrorist organization by the governments of the United States and the Philippines. Anyone in proximity of NPA elements is at grave risk of arrest, injury, or death,” the embassy said.
The advisory also cautioned that foreign terrorist organizations may attempt to recruit Americans to participate in or support their activities.
Areas of heightened concern include rural and mountainous regions of Leyte, Mindoro, Negros, and Samar, where recent clashes between the NPA and government forces have been reported.
The embassy said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has stepped up operations targeting the New People’s Army (NPA) in several provinces, and cautioned that foreign nationals have recently been present during military engagements.
READ: Independent probe sought into deadly Negros encounter
The advisory cited an April 19 armed clash that resulted in the deaths of two Americans, though it did not release additional details on their identities or circumstances.
“US citizens have been present during recent military actions against the NPA. An April 19, 2026, armed clash resulted in the deaths of two Americans,” the embassy said in a statement.
The embassy advised Americans in the Philippines and other countries to “abide by local laws and to avoid situations with elevated security risk.”
The embassy warned that US citizens should avoid any contact or association with armed groups and immediately leave areas where unidentified armed individuals are present.
It also cautioned Americans engaging in humanitarian or volunteer work to coordinate only with properly registered organizations and to secure appropriate visas, noting that some groups may have links to violent actors.
US citizens were also advised to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive emergency alerts and to facilitate assistance if needed.
READ: CPP releases names of casualties in ‘Toboso 19,’ including 9 civilians
The embassy said its advisory is part of routine security messaging amid ongoing instability in conflict-affected areas of the country.
National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. earlier said the April 19 encounter in Toboso, Negros Occidental, where 19 alleged NPA members were killed, reportedly included two American nationals identified as Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem.
The AFP said all 19 individuals were armed and engaged in combat with government troops, while the Communist Party of the Philippines maintained that some of those killed were civilians and denied they were members of the NPA.
The Commission on Human Rights has launched an investigation into the incident, citing conflicting accounts from both sides and seeking to determine whether international humanitarian law was observed during the encounter. /jpv