[PRESS RELEASE] Autopsy of Negros 19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2026
Contact: Joell Manguerra, info@bayanusa.org (503) 867-8380
Autopsy of Negros 19, including 2 Filipino-Americans, killed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines reveal mishandled bodies and evidence tampering, including return of wrong body to family
Justice for Negros 19 - Press Kit
A recently conducted autopsy of those killed in the Negros 19 massacre in the Philippines, including Filipino-Americans Lyle Prijoles and Kai Sorem, is painting a picture that counters the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) narrative that the massacre was a "legitimate armed encounter". Forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun—who was pivotal in the examination of bodies killed under former president Rodrigo Duterte‘s drug war and featured in the New York Times for her expertise—led the autopsy, which was conducted April 25-29 at the request of the victims' relatives. The results exposed many discrepancies in the narrative of the AFP and indicate war crimes.
Dr. Fortun noted gross mishandling of the remains and evidence following the massacre, including a lack of a basic homicide investigation, and the lack of preservation of the bodies as well as the belongings of those killed. Fortun shared some of the remains were already in advanced stages of decomposition and wrapped tightly in plastic, including their faces. The autopsy also revealed that the clothes of the victims in the images presented by the AFP did not match what happened to their bodies. For example, one of the bodies examined had a bullet vest on, but Fortun pointed out that if he was hit where the bullet vest had been placed, there should have also been a hole in the vest.
Fortun also highlighted a disturbing case of mishandling—after examining the body submitted by the AFP identified as Errol Wendel, she concluded that it was not him after comparing the body's height, dental features, scars and clothing with what relatives knew of Errol.
The examination of gun shot wounds on the bodies illustrated bullets entered from the back shot by high velocity rifles, which runs counter to the claims that the Negros 19 were killed in a live firefight. One victim was shot four times including a shot to the leg, where the bullet struck an artery and a vein. According to Fortun, the individual's cause of death was likely due to bleeding out from the wound and neglect to provide medical attention, which constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.
Following the autopsy results, community members and organizations have committed to ensuring the truth of what happened during the massacre comes to light, and that those who killed the Negros 19 are brought to justice. They remain unfazed by "troll-army" comments cruelly calling the victims "corned beef", as well as the AFP and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict's (NTF-ELCAC) continuous terror-tagging of organizations involved in advocacy similar to that of Prijoles and Sorem.
“The horrific facts revealed by the autopsy show the extent to which the Philippine government will cover up its war crimes. It only makes us more motivated to fight for justice," stated Andan Bonifacio of BAYAN USA. "How dare they blame the victims themselves and the organizations defending them when it is the AFP that massacred them."
Throughout the month of May and beyond, Filipino community organizations and allies will continue to hold activities in cities across the country seeking justice for Prijoles, Sorem, and the Negros 19. They are also united in challenging Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s bid for a seat in the United Nations Security Council, a body responsible for maintaining international peace and security. "The government's massacre of the Negros 19 proves, without a shadow of a doubt, that Marcos Jr. is not capable of bringing peace nor security for the Filipino people," Bonifacio added.
Interviews with family, friends, and other community members are available upon request.