Negros communities mourn journalist RJ Ledesma

By Juliane Judilla

“A skilled journalist and writer, an active human rights defender, and a good friend.”

This is how colleagues, friends, and family remember RJ Nichole Ledesma, a writer and editor of Paghimutad-Negros, an alternative media outfit on Negros Island, and the regional coordinator of Altermidya Network on the island.

Ledesma was one of 19 people killed in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental, on April 19 in what the military described as an encounter between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New People’s Army.

Residents, however, disputed the military’s account, claiming the clash occurred elsewhere and alleging that civilians were killed by soldiers during military operations in nearby communities.

Human Rights Advocates Negros said Ledesma and his companions were in a different sitio at the time of the operations, conducting activities with local farmers.

The group condemned the AFP for what it described as a failure to adhere to international humanitarian law, particularly in protecting civilians and noncombatants, and said the killing reflects a broader pattern of state violence.

“Ledesma’s killing is not an isolated case, but part of a broader pattern of violence fueled by intensified militarization in the province under Memorandum Order No. 32,” HRAN said.

“Ledesma’s killing is a stark reflection of a climate where truth-telling is met with violence, and where those who stand with the people are treated as threats rather than protected as citizens. His death demands more than mourning; it demands accountability,” the group added.

HRAN called for an independent investigation into the incident, as well as alleged harassment of residents in the area.

“We call on the Commission on Human Rights to conduct an immediate, transparent, and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding his killing, and to ensure that those responsible are held to account. We also urge other independent bodies to take an active role in pursuing justice and safeguarding the rights of civilians in militarized areas,” they said.

“Above all, we call for an end to the conditions that make these killings possible—the unchecked militarization of communities, the red-tagging of civilians, and the systemic disregard for human rights,” HRAN concluded.

Ledesma had been in Toboso to investigate the impact of energy projects and reported human rights violations in northern Negros, where communities have raised concerns over the establishment of energy plants and solar farms.

His reporting included coverage of a palm oil plantation project in Candoni, Negros Occidental, where he documented the displacement of farmers and Indigenous communities.

He also reported on sugar workers in Cadiz City facing the possible loss of farmland due to a government road project, and on fisherfolk in Bacolod City affected by reclamation activities.

Ledesma began his journalism career in college, where he served as editor-in-chief of The Spectrum, the official student publication of the University of St. La Salle.

He was a former chairperson of the League of Filipino Students-Bacolod and served as the seventh nominee of Kabataan Partylist in the 2022 elections.

He was active in grassroots campaigns in Bacolod City and across the Negros region.

Beyond journalism and human rights work, Ledesma was also a writer.

He founded SPIT zines in 2017 and was a poetry fellow at the Silliman University National Writers Workshop and the 9th Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Writers Workshop.

Various media groups also condemned his killing.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said Ledesma’s death during a military operation underscores the risks faced by journalists and human rights defenders.

Altermidya said Ledesma’s death is mourned not only by those who knew him personally but also by the communities he served.

“We give the highest honor to our colleague RJ, who until his last breath served marginalized communities by immersing and reporting on their stories. Together with his family and colleagues, we demand justice for RJ Ledesma,” the network said.