BACOLOD City — Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez has withdrawn his proposed congressional inquiry into the April 19 incident in Toboso, saying ongoing investigations by appropriate agencies should proceed without political interference.
The incident stemmed from an armed encounter in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, involving troops of the 79th Infantry Battalion and suspected members of the New People’s Army, which resulted in the deaths of 19 individuals believed to be affiliated with the communist rebel group.
Benitez had earlier filed a resolution seeking an inquiry in aid of legislation as part of a fact-finding effort following the clash.
In a public statement issued on May 10, however, the congressman said he would no longer pursue the measure, citing ongoing investigations by the Commission on Human Rights and other concerned government agencies.
“The right course is to let these processes run their full course without political interference,” Benitez said.
“Justice is best served by institutions doing their work, not by Congress getting ahead of them,” he added.
The lawmaker also called for sobriety and unity as the investigations continue, stressing the need to balance accountability with peace-building efforts in Negros Occidental.
He acknowledged the province’s continuing security challenges and commended the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including the 79th Infantry Battalion and the 3rd Infantry Division, for their efforts in addressing insurgency in conflict-affected communities.
“The insurgency in Negros is not an abstraction debated in Manila or argued about online,” Benitez said.
While expressing support for security operations, he emphasized that lasting peace cannot be achieved through military action alone.
Benitez ended his statement with an appeal for healing and unity among Negrenses.
“Let us choose peace. Let us seek truth. Let us heal together,” he said. “And let us hold sacred the dignity of every Negrosanon, soldier and civilian alike.”
Meanwhile, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict urged the public to await the results of official investigations, saying preliminary forensic findings should be viewed with “sobriety, context, and patience.”
The task force maintained that the April 19 incident involved a running gun battle between government troops and armed insurgents, resulting in 19 fatalities and the recovery of 24 firearms.
Last week, an online news report cited forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun, who raised concerns over the handling of the remains of those killed in the encounter. She said lapses in evidence preservation and body processing could hamper efforts to determine what transpired during the clash.
Fortun disclosed initial autopsy findings on five of the 19 fatalities and pointed to inconsistencies that she said warrant further investigation./PN
