2 Americans among 19 militants killed in clashes with Philippines' forces this week

Two Americans were among 19 suspected communist guerrillas who were killed in clashes with Philippine troops in a central province earlier this week.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict ((NTF-ELCAC) - a government anti-insurgency task force - said on Saturday that the Americans were killed with 17 other suspected New People’s Army guerrillas in a series of clashes with army forces on April 19 in the coastal town of Toboso in Negros Occidental province.

The deadly clashes were first reported on Monday.

The NTF-ELCAC identified the deceased US nationals as Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem.

According to the task force, Prijoles arrived in the Philippines in March 2026 along with Sorem.

The task force raised concerns over the involvement of foreign nationals in local armed hostilities, expressing caution on the implications of the incident, and citing the risks tied to involvement in certain activities or networks.

“The presence of two American fatalities in a single encounter should prompt careful reflection on how involvement in certain activities or networks may lead to unintended exposure to dangerous environments,” it said in a statement.

The remains of the two Americans have been turned over to their families.

The US and the Philippines have separately designated the New People's Army as a terrorist organization.