Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez has decided to withdraw his resolution seeking a congressional investigation into the armed encounter in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, on April 19, 2026, which resulted in the deaths of 19 individuals.
Benitez Backs Down
In a statement on Sunday, May 10, 2026, Benitez said, "I earlier filed a resolution for inquiry in aid of legislation, intended as a fact-finding measure. I will not push it forward." He explained that ongoing investigations by relevant government agencies, such as the Commission on Human Rights, are already underway. He stressed that the proper course of action is to allow these processes to conclude without political interference. "Justice is best served by institutions doing their work, not by Congress getting ahead of them," he added.
Benitez had previously filed House Resolution (HR) 969, which aimed to investigate the incident to help craft legislation. However, he now believes that the existing investigations should be allowed to proceed unimpeded.
Praise for Security Forces
The lawmaker commended the 79th Infantry Battalion, the 3rd Infantry Division, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for their service across Negros. He also thanked barangay officials and community members for their vigilance and cooperation. "The work is hard and dangerous. The people of Negros know it. Those who live in our barangays understand the true situation on the ground," Benitez said.
He emphasized that the insurgency in Negros is not an abstraction debated in Manila or argued on the internet. "It is a daily reality our farmers, teachers, and local officials live with. It is felt in fear, in displacement, in lost school days, in stalled livelihoods," he added.
Details of the Clash
On April 19, a total of 19 alleged rebels of the New People's Army were killed in what the military described as an armed encounter in Barangay Salamanca. Among the fatalities were a journalist, a student leader, and two Filipino-Americans. The military reported recovering weapons and other equipment from the clash site.
Call for Coordination
Benitez urged students, journalists, and researchers planning to visit Negros to study, document, or serve in communities to coordinate with their academic institutions, barangays, and local government units. "In parts of our province where the conflict remains live, coordination is a layer of safety. It is not a constraint on your work. We want you to be able to do what you came to do, and to go home safely," he said.
Path to Peace
The lawmaker stressed that peace in Negros cannot be achieved by force alone. "Our people need two things in equal measure: protection and new sources of livelihood. Where there is no opportunity, despair grows. And despair is what the insurgency feeds on. We have seen this pattern across generations," Benitez concluded.
