Statement on the U.S. Embassy Security Alert on the Recruitment of Americans into the NPA

May 1, 2026

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) welcomes with great enthusiasm the latest security alert issued by the Embassy of the United States in Manila warning its citizens of the dangers posed by the New People’s Army (NPA).

This is perhaps the first direct and explicit recognition by the United States government that its own citizens are being drawn into violence by organizations linked to the CPP-NPA-NDF.

The advisory is both timely and significant. In unequivocal terms, it states: “The NPA is designated a foreign terrorist organization by the governments of the United States and the Philippines.”

More importantly, it underscores a critical reality that has long been denied or downplayed: “Foreign terrorist organizations actively recruit Americans to participate directly in terrorist activities and/or provide financial support.”

Equally important is the advisory’s caution that “some non-governmental organizations have affiliations with the NPA and other violent groups,” reinforcing long-standing concerns about infiltration and the misuse of legitimate platforms for recruitment and support activities.

The alert also carries a clear and urgent reminder: “We advise Americans in the Philippines and around the world to abide by local laws and to avoid situations with elevated security risk.” This is a prudent directive grounded on real and present dangers.

This acknowledgment affirms what Philippine authorities have consistently exposed—that the insurgency is not merely a domestic security concern but part of a broader transnational network of recruitment, radicalization, and terrorism.

The advisory further identifies areas of heightened concern, particularly rural and mountainous regions of Leyte, Mindoro, Negros, and Samar, where recent fatal encounters between government forces and the NPA have been recorded. It warns that “anyone in proximity of NPA elements is at grave risk of arrest, injury, or death,” a stark reflection of the realities on the ground, including the reported incident where “an April 19, 2026, armed clash resulted in the deaths of two Americans.”

The NTF-ELCAC likewise expresses its deepest appreciation to the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) for its compassionate and principled statement on the tragic loss of lives, including US citizens Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem. We join them in mourning and affirm their reminder that “every Filipino life, whether at home or abroad, carries dignity and must be protected.”

Their call for clarity, justice, and a deeper understanding of the circumstances surrounding these deaths resonates with our own commitment to truth and accountability.

At the same time, this tragedy underscores a hard truth: foreign nationals, including members of the Filipino community abroad, are not immune from being drawn into violent extremism when deceptive recruitment and ideological manipulation are at play.

This is precisely why the Embassy’s warning—and NaFFAA’s appeal for informed civic engagement—are both crucial at this time.

We fully support the Embassy’s clear directive: “Do not affiliate with terrorist or insurgent groups.” This is a message not only for U.S. citizens but for all individuals—Filipinos and foreigners alike—who may be exposed to narratives that obscure the violent and unlawful nature of armed insurgency.

This development strengthens the shared commitment of the Philippines and the United States to combat terrorism in all its forms. It also sends a powerful signal to those who continue to enable, justify, or obscure the activities of the CPP-NPA-NDF: the international community is taking notice, and the truth is becoming undeniable.

The NTF-ELCAC reiterates its call for vigilance, accountability, and collective action. Recruitment into armed insurgency—whether of Filipinos or foreign nationals—is not activism. It is a pathway to violence, exploitation, and, too often, death.

Usec. Ernesto C. Torres Jr.

Executive Director, NTF-ELCAC