Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) identified the 5 armed persons believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA) following an encounter between the Philippine Army (PA) troops and the suspected rebels in barangay Cabacnitan, Bilar town on Tuesday, May 25, 2021.
The BPPO identified the fatalities as Romeo Sambrano Nabas, vice commanding officer of the Sandatahang Yunit Propaganda (SYP) platoon of the Bohol Party Committee (BPC); Joseph Bautista, finance logistics officer of SYP platoon of the BPC; Marvin Flores Tereg, a regular member of the SYP platoon; Edonila Nuera, a regular member of the SYP platoon and a certain alyas Bucar.
The same report adds that a civilian identified as Linda Dequiña, a resident of barangay Cabacnitan, was hit by a stray bullet and brought to a Tagbilaran City hospital for treatment.
Moreover, one soldier was reported injured following the firefight. The said soldier was brought to a nearby hospital for treatment, the same report bares.
The police said that the firefight between the PA and the suspected NPAs started at around 5:45 am on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. About 11 suspected NPA members engaged in a firefight with government troops belonging to the 47th Infantry Battalion (IB).
The Scene of Crime Operatives (SOCO) reported that they recovered 1 M16 magazine, 3 AK 47 magazines, 191 cartridges of caliber 5.56 mm, 2 bandoliers, and alleged subversive documents, among others.
Meanwhile, Gov. Arthur Yap congratulated the soldiers for their victory over the suspected NPA rebels in a radio interview over Newsmakers Ug Uban Pa radio program hosted by Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Dave Albarado on Tuesday, May 25, 2021.
He added that he is in constant communication with Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana and other key defense and military officials regarding the peace and order situation in the province.
He emphasized that the provincial government already conducted close to 50 Health, Education, Agriculture, Rural Development and (HEART) caravans which have been bringing government services to hinterland barangays and remote areas in the province as a way to counter the influence of the Community Terrorist Groups such as the NPA and to maintain the insurgency-free status of Bohol.