Fact check: Flags in photo linked to Negros encounter were edited in

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MANILA, Philippines — A Facebook page posted a photo it claimed was taken before the armed encounter in Negros Occidental, with flags of militant and armed groups edited in — a move a human rights group described as “red-tagging.”

The manipulated photo, first published on May 2, 2026 by the Facebook page The TRUTH, which has over 10,000 followers, was later shared by multiple pages and accounts, including Reallife Story, which has over 414,000 followers. 

Captions accompanying the altered photo claimed it was taken days before 19 people, including student leader Alyssa Alano and community journalist RJ Ledesma, were killed in a military operation in Toboso, Negros Occidental on April 19, 2026.

The caption of The TRUTH’s Facebook post read:

Eto ang nakuhang larawan ilang araw bago mangyari ang engkwentro sa negros, Wag na wag po tayong mag papaloko sa mga recruiter upang Hindi humantong sa kamatayan o kulungan Ang inyong mga buhay wag mag pa recruit ! At wag mag pasakop sa ideolohiya ng mga npa at mga grupong sumusuporta dito

Rating: This is fake. 

Facts

The flags seen in the circulating photo were not part of the original image and were digitally added.

The group Human Rights Advocates Negros described the circulating photo as “edited” and labeled the attempt as “red-tagging.”

The original photo, without the flags or text overlays, appeared in a tribute post for Ledesma and Alano published on April 29, 2026, before the altered version began circulating.

A translated version of the caption, based on a translation shared in the comments, read:

Salamat, RJ at Alyssa.
Kaming mga magsasakang apektado sa Candoni ay nagdadalamhati sa nangyari sa inyo. Nitong mga nakaraang buwan lang ay nandito kayo, nakipanayam sa aming mga magsasaka at pinakinggan ang mga hinaing namin sa HAPI (Hacienda Asia Plantation, Inc)*.
Salamat sa panahong ibinigay ninyo. Kahit malayo ang Candoni ay pumunta pa rin kayo.
Salamat, RJ at Alyssa, sa tulong ninyo. Naniniwala kaming hindi kayo mga NPA.
Ang Diyos lang ang nakaaalam ng tunay na nangyari at makapagbibigay ng hustisya sa inyo.

Based on available searches, the April 29 post appears to be the earliest instance of the image found online.

A comparison of the original and altered photos shows that elements such as the poses and positions of the individuals are identical.

Why we fact-checked this

The Commission on Human Rights has launched its own investigation into the armed encounter in Toboso, Negros Occidental, amid calls from rights and press freedom groups for an independent probe into the killing of 19 people, with colleagues of Ledesma and Alano saying neither was armed nor at the initial clash site.

Altermidya Network said Ledesma was in the area for community work and immersion reporting on the effects of solar farm expansion and windmill projects on vulnerable farmer communities when he was killed.

The UP Diliman University Student Council said Alano lived among farmers in Negros to learn about their situation amid land grabbing, exploitation, and militarization.

The edited photo lumped together flags of armed groups — such as the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People's Army, and National Democratic Front of the Philippines — with those of militant groups, including Bayan Muna and Anakpawis Party-list under the Makabayan coalition, as well as the labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno.

Human Rights Watch describes “red-tagging” as part of government counterinsurgency efforts that involve publicly accusing activists and journalists of links to communist groups.

The TRUTH's Facebook post with the altered photo has obtained over 2,200 reactions — most of which are laugh reactions — 700 comments, and 600 shares.