The United States Embassy in Manila has issued a security alert advising American citizens to avoid rural and mountainous areas in the Philippines following intensified military operations against the New People's Army (NPA). The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) described the advisory as a recognition of the risks posed by groups linked to the communist insurgency.
Security Alert Details
The embassy issued the alert on Friday, May 1, 2026, after an armed clash on April 19 resulted in multiple deaths, including two Americans. In a statement, NTF-Elcac executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said the advisory was significant because it warned US citizens against the dangers of being near NPA elements.
The US Embassy noted that US citizens had been present during recent military actions against the NPA. “We advise Americans in the Philippines and around the world to abide by local laws and to avoid situations with elevated security risk,” the embassy said.
Identified High-Risk Areas
The advisory identified rural and mountainous areas in Leyte, Mindoro, Negros, and Samar as areas of heightened concern due to recent fatal encounters between government forces and the NPA.
Torres said the security alert was “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.” He added that the advisory was timely because it stated that the NPA is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by both the US and Philippine governments.
Broader Implications
Torres highlighted what he called 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,” he said. “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.”
Additional Warnings
The embassy advised Americans not to affiliate with terrorist or insurgent groups. It said Americans who may have unknowingly become associated with a group suspected of engaging in terrorism or armed opposition to the Philippine government should contact the embassy immediately. Americans encountering armed individuals not affiliated with the police or military were advised to leave the area at once.
The embassy also cautioned Americans seeking to join humanitarian activities in the Philippines, noting that some nongovernment organizations have affiliations with the NPA and other violent groups. It advised working only with groups registered with the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency, obtaining the proper visa, and coordinating with local government units for security information and local context.
Torres also expressed NTF-Elcac’s appreciation to the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) for its statement on the deaths of US citizens Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem. Torres said NaFFAA’s call for clarity, justice, and a deeper understanding of the circumstances aligned with the task force’s commitment to truth and accountability.
