Negros courts acquitted nine political prisoners arrested by state forces in 2019 and 2022 on criminal charges. The court ordered the police to release the victims from their illegal detention.
On November 18, the charges of murder and frustrated murder against Pastor Jimie Teves, Jodito Montesino, Jaypee Romano, Jasper Aguyong, Rogen Sabanal, Eliseo Andres, and Rodrigo Medez were dismissed. The seven were arrested in Himamaylan City in June 2019. They were implicated in an armed encounter between the NPA and AFP soldiers in Kabankalan City in May 2018.
On November 13, Carmen Jonahville (CJ) Matarlo and John Michael Tecson were released after the court dismissed the charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives against them. The two were arrested on March 18, 2022, along with National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant Ramon Patriarca in Barangay Suay, Himamaylan City.