Benitez seeks House probe into Toboso clash

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez has filed a resolution seeking a congressional inquiry into a recent armed clash in the province that left 19 suspected members of the New People’s Army dead.

Under House Resolution 968, Benitez is asking the appropriate committee of the House of Representatives to investigate the April 19 encounter in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, involving troops of the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion under the 303rd Infantry Brigade and individuals allegedly linked to the NPA.

Although Toboso falls under the province’s 1st Legislative District, Benitez said the proposed inquiry aims to establish a clear and accurate account of what happened, especially in light of differing public narratives about the incident.

The lawmaker said the House inquiry would serve as a neutral platform where all parties involved can present evidence, share their versions of events, and submit official reports.

The resolution also seeks to determine whether new laws or policy measures are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.

It calls on relevant government agencies and stakeholders to provide documents and other material evidence to support the investigation.

The Philippine Army earlier said it welcomed any investigation related to the deadly skirmish, expressing its full commitment to transparency.

The Communist Party of the Philippines, in a recent statement, condemned the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the 79th Infantry Battalion, for what it claimed was the “indiscriminate and inordinate killing of 19 people,” including NPA fighters and unarmed individuals in Toboso.

The CPP honored the squad of 10 NPA fighters it identified as Roger Fabillar, also known as Ka Tapang, NPA commander of the Northern Negros Front; Sonny Boy Caramihan, 28, of Barangay Bagonbon, San Carlos City; Rene Villarin Sr., 57, of Barangay Marcelo, Calatrava, a squad leader; Pedro Bonghanoy, a medical officer from Barangay Libertad, Escalante City; Arnel Javoc, 32, of Barangay Lalong, Calatrava; Joros Caramihan, 18, of Don Salvador Benedicto; Maria Clarita Branzuel Blanco, also known as Ka Sanim or Pat, a political instructor; Genevieve Balora, also known as Ka Raia, of Bacolod City, a district party cadre; Labskie Purisimia Enustacion, 33, of Barangay Bug-ang, Toboso; and Jocel Gimang, 18, of Barangay Malasibog, Escalante City.

The CPP acknowledged that the NPA suffered a tactical defeat but said it remains clear-sighted and determined to advance along the revolutionary path toward strategic victory.

“Their deaths weigh heavily on our hearts. As revolutionary warriors, they all selflessly served the Filipino people, especially the oppressed and exploited peasants and farmworkers of Negros,” the CPP stated.

The CPP also extended its condolences to the families of Roel Sabillo, 19, of Barangay Tabunac, Toboso; RJ Nichole Ledesma, 30, a community journalist from Bacolod City; Alyssa Alano, a councilor of the University of the Philippines Diliman Student Council; Maureen Keil Santuyo, 24, a member of the National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates-Youth; Errol Wendel, 24, a member of Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura; a 15-year-old girl from Barangay Salamanca, Toboso; Lyle Prijoles, 40, of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, from San Francisco, California, U.S.; Kai Sorem, 26, from Seattle, Washington, U.S.; and a 17-year-old boy from Barangay Lalong, Calatrava.

The CPP claimed these individuals were killed despite being unarmed or noncombatants.

The Army maintained that all 19 had alleged links to the NPA, citing their presence in the area during the series of clashes, with some of them allegedly carrying high-powered firearms.

Barangay Salamanca officials also said there was no coordination for research in the area, contrary to claims by progressive groups that some of the fatalities were conducting an immersion when the clash happened.

The AFP said the incident in Toboso was a legitimate, intelligence-driven operation to protect communities from the threat and intimidation of NPA elements in the area.

The AFP said the operation was conducted in accordance with the rule of law, rules of engagement, and international humanitarian law, with civilian safety as a top priority.

The AFP said it recognizes and respects the public’s right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and called on all participants to exercise these rights responsibly and based on verified facts.

The military urged the public to avoid spreading disinformation and instead contribute to constructive, truth-based discourse that supports accountability, protects communities, and promotes lasting peace.

The Commission on Human Rights has also launched an independent probe into the incident, citing the need to verify conflicting accounts on the identities of those killed and the circumstances of the encounter.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict recently confirmed the deaths of two Filipino Americans in the clash, identified as Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem.

The anti-insurgency task force cited information drawn from publicly available records indicating that Prijoles had been affiliated with Anakbayan-USA since 2012, where he reportedly served in various capacities before his presence in the Philippines.

Reports also indicated that the two American nationals arrived in the country independently toward the end of March 2026 and were believed to have later traveled to Negros Occidental, where they were killed on April 19.

The NTF-ELCAC said the information points to a disturbing convergence: foreign nationals in a live combat setting, where the risks are immediate and the consequences irreversible.

“For Filipinos living overseas, particularly in the United States, this situation calls for heightened awareness and sound judgment,” it said.

The task force said the presence of two American fatalities in a single encounter should prompt careful reflection on how involvement in certain activities or networks may lead to unintended exposure to dangerous environments.

It encouraged Filipino communities abroad to exercise caution in engagements that may extend beyond lawful advocacy and into areas that carry significant personal risk.

Awareness and discernment are essential in ensuring that no member of the community is placed in harm’s way, the task force added.

The NTF-ELCAC also confirmed that two U.S. citizens, Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem, were among those killed, and said both had traveled to Negros Occidental after arriving in the Philippines in late March 2026.