• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
More lawmakers are supporting a thorough and impartial probe into the deaths 19 individuals in Toboso, Negros Occidental, including two American activists, which the Armed Forces of the Philippines maintains were legitimate encounters between Army soldiers and suspected New People’s Army rebels, amid emerging opposing public narratives of the incident.
Aside from the Makabayan solons bloc, Negros Occidental 3rd district Representative Javier Miguel Benitez also filed a resolution directing the appropriate committee of the House of Representatives to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the armed encounter in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, on April 19, which left 19 people dead.
The inquiry will provide a proper forum and opportunity for all concerned parties to present their version of facts, submit reports, and clarify accounts surrounding the incident, Benitez said.
In House Resolution Number 968, Benitez noted conflicting and opposing public narratives have emerged, with varying assertions attributing responsibility for the incident to both deceased individuals and members of the Philippine Army, necessitating an impartial investigation to establish an accurate account of the facts.
The results of such investigation may provide insights and information as possible basis for an appropriate legislative measure to address and prevent similar incidents, as well as related concerns from happening in the future, should any arise.
Senators Risa Hontiveros and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan also supported an impartial probe, although no similar resolution was filed in the Senate.
Hontiveros, who on Tuesday attended the Universal Health Care summit in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, said she is supporting the full, objective and impartial probe of CHR, to determine the real truth on what had really transpired.
“Only on the basis of the truth, that there can be justice for any who should be given justice. Only on the basis of truth and justice, we can build peace, which we have been longing for so long,” the lady senator said.
Hontiveros is pinning her hope on the Commission on Human Rights to determine all the truths behind the deaths of 19 individuals.
“Sinusuportahan natin ang isang maagap, independent, at credible na imbestigasyon sa kung ano ang tunay na nangyari sa Salamanca. Gusto nating i-establish ang buong katotohanan, linawin ang katayuan ng mga namatay, at panagutin ang sinumang maaaring lumabag sa batas (We support a swift, independent, and credible investigation into what really happened in Salamanca. We want to establish the full truth, clarify the status of those who died, and hold accountable anyone who may have violated the law),” Pangilinan said in a statement.
Cavite Representative Franciso Barzaga lauded the efforts of the 79th Infantry Battalion in Salamanca, Toboso,in neutralizing armed remnants of the New People’s Army in northern Negros, who were linked to numerous deaths of civilians in Toboso, Calatrava and Escalante City.
“Our soldiers risked their lives fighting terrorists in Negros Occidental. Congress should be congratulating them, instead of investigating them,” Barzaga said.
The Philippine Army has maintained that all 19 fatalities were NPA combatants, including ranking rebel figures in northern Negros, and stressed that the operations were intelligence-driven and conducted in accordance with rules of engagement, with civilian safety as a priority.
The NPA’s Apolinario Gatmaitan Command, however, acknowledged that several of those killed were its fighters, while asserting that other fatalities were civilians.*
