Six alleged members of the New People’s Army were killed during an encounter with personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Barangay Campagao, Bilar, Bohol on September 7,2023. | Contributed photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Two of the six alleged fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA), who were killed during an encounter with Task Group Bohol of the Philippine Army in Bohol province on Thursday morning, September 7, 2023, were already identified.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO-7), said that the two casualties were Jiggler Compoc and Ruben Nabas.
Compoc was positively identified by his grandmother, Rosita Villamor. Nabas, on the other hand, was identified by Rolando Pataca, the barangay captain of Barangay Rizal in Batuan town.
As of this writing, authorities continue to gather information on the two alleged NPA fighters as they also try to identify the four other male cadavers, Pelare said.
NPA Sightings
Soldiers in Bilar town were tipped on the sighting of at least nine suspected rebels in the hinterland of Sitio Ilaud in Barangay Campagao.
According to reports, the rebels, who were believed to be part of the NPA’s Bohol Party Committee, Komiteng Rehiyon- Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (BPC KR-NCBS), were forcibly asking residents for food and other supplies.
The BPC KR-NCBS is a dismantled communist terrorist group under the command of Domingo Compoc alias Eloy, according to a Facebook post by the 94th Infantry Battalion.
Pelare said that a total of five ‘short encounters’ happened between the rebels and government troops on September 7. Each lasted between five to seven minutes.
The encounters resulted in the death of six suspected rebels.
Authorities also recovered five caliber 5.56 mm rifles, two caliber 7.62 mm (AK 47) rifles, 404 caliber 5.56 mm cartridges, 42 caliber 7.62×39 mm cartridges, and eight caliber .45 pistol cartridges.
In addition, they also confiscated five caliber 5.56 mm magazine assembly, two caliber 5.56 mm long aluminum magazine, two caliber 7.62 mm magazine assembly, one caliber .45 pistol, two hand grenades, two rifle grenades, subversive documents and assorted personal belongings.
Big Success
The two hand grenades and two rifle grenades are now in the custody of Provincial Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit while the firearms, magazines, and ammunitions are with the Provincial Forensic Unit.
The six cadavers were brought to a funeral home in Carmen Bohol.
Pelare said that the result of the September 7 operation was a big success and mainly due to the massive monitoring conducted by soldiers who are deployed in the area.
The firearms and ammunition that were recovered after the encounter show the strength of the rebel group, he said.
Remnants
Pelare said that the problem of insurgency in Bohol province has long been taken care of. However, there are still remnants who continue to cause trouble in some parts of province.
“Kining problema sa insurgency sa Bohol, nadismantle na ni. Buot pasabot, disarray na sila. Dili na organisado. Pero katong mga remnants, mga nahabilin, naa pa gihapoy report of sightings makita sila magtapok-tapok,” he said.
Pelare also does not discount the possibility that these remnants may be used to cause chaos during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in October.
To prevent this from happening, Pelare said that the local police will closely work with other law enforcement agencies. They will also continue to conduct checkpoints and intelligence gathering and monitoring as they help pursue the remaining rebels. | With Paul Lauro
/ dcb
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