Bohol still insurgency-free despite recent clash — army

CEBU, Philippines —  Bohol province is still insurgency-free despite the recent armed encounter between government troops and suspected communist rebels, a military official said.

Major Cenon Pancito, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, said NPA is still trying to establish and regain its presence in the province.

He, however, acknowledged the communist insurgency dilemma there.

“Is there an insurgency problem in Bohol? Definitely, yes. But the rebels are just starting to organize and recruit again the former key members and the masses. They are trying to revive the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army) clout in Bohol,” he said.

But based on military surveillance, he said, the NPA rebels are having a hard time infiltrating the province.

“Nahihirapan sila i-revive yung presence nila sa Bohol. In terms of expanding and making a party committee in Bohol (the Kilusang Rehiyon Negros-Cebu-Bohol- Siquijor), wala pa nila na-achieve,” he said.

He said local NPA groups received directive from their higher-ups to expand NPA territories in Bohol and other provinces.

Pancito said Bohol remains insurgency-free despite having indicators of the presence of NPA after a series of clashes.

Bohol was declared “insurgency-free” by the Armed Forces of the Philippines on February 11, 2010. In fact, it was declared as a model for AFP’s peace programs and successful campaigns against the NPA.

On Tuesday morning, May 25, 2021, five suspected members of the New People’s Army died while an army soldier was wounded in a two-hour firefight in Barangay Cabacnitan.

The five were identified as Joseph Bautista, 33, from Inabanga; Romeo Nabas, 54, from Batuan; Marvin Terig, 22, from Danao; Junrey Bucar, 20, from Bilar; and Edionela Nuera, 18, from Trinidad.

Nabas was also identified as vice commanding officer of the special partisan unit.

As of yesterday, their bodies were retrieved by their families.

The army said the clash erupted after troops on patrol in the area encountered around 11 armed men.

Troops seized firearms and various subversive documents with “high intelligence value” from the suspected NPA rebels after the clash ended, the army added.

With the recent encounter, Pancito said the 47th Infantry Battalion is further strengthening its monitoring and surveillance operations.

The official also asked for the cooperation of the local governments and the public in reporting sightings of insurgents. — KQD (FREEMAN)