Bohol First District Rep. Edgar M. Chatto (middle) and Balilihan Mayor Pureza Veloso-Chatto (extreme left) visited Barangay Hanopol Norte on Thursday afternoon, March 09, 2023, to check on the situation of the residents who were affected by a government operation earlier that day. The operation reportedly involved an encounter between government forces and armed rebels in the area near Catigbian, Batuan and Sevilla towns. The Chattos brought food supplies for the evacuees’ families who sought refuge in a nearby school. Rep. Chatto, himself, also coordinated with the local government unit (LGU) of Balilihan, the barangay council and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure peace and order in the area. Contributed photo
Bohol province, once declared as insurgency-free, is now facing a resurgence of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who have quickly established their foothold in several towns.
As this develops, military sources have confirmed the presence of armed rebels known as NPA communists-terrorists in Balilihan, Bohol who clashed with government soldiers in a 10-minute gunbattle on Thursday.
According to sources from the Philippine Army, NPA rebels have set up camps in at least 15 towns in Bohol, namely Balilihan, Catigbian, Batuan, Bilar, Sevilla, San Isidro, Antequera, Inabanga, Trinidad, Danao, Ubay, San Miguel, Candijay, Mabini, and Valencia. These towns were previously cleared of NPA influence by government forces.
NPA rebels have long been wanting to return to Bohol because it is a huge source of money for them. They extort from businesses and residents and use violence and intimidation to gain support, the report added.
Bohol was declared insurgency-free in 2007 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo after years of counter-insurgency operations by the military and police.
The status as insurgency-free was maintained during the administrations of former Governors Edgar Chatto and Atty. Art Yap.
BALILIHAN CLASH
Government troops thwarted an attempt by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels to attack a village in Balilihan town, Bohol on Thursday, March 9.
According to a report from the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO), soldiers from the 21st Coy Special Forces and Task Group Bohol encountered at least seven armed men believed to be members of NPA’s Bohol Party Committee, KomitengRehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (BPC-KR-NCBS) at around 5 p.m. in Sitio Lusad, Barangay Hanopol Norte.
The firefight lasted for about 10 minutes before the rebels withdrew from the area. No casualties were reported on both sides.
The BPPO said that the military forces were conducting strike operations after receiving reports of NPA presence in the area. The village has more or less 30 families.
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which has been waging a decades-long insurgency against the government. The group is considered a terrorist organization by both Manila and Washington.
The encounter came amid ongoing clashes between government troops and NPA rebels in other parts of Negros Island, where BPC-KR-NCBS operates.
ARIS’S MEETING WITH PNP
In another development, Governor Aumentado had met with high-ranking police officials recently before the encounter in Balilihan town. Aumentado and the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) led by Provincial Director PCol. Lorenzo Batuan, his command staff, Bohol PPSC-SWAT and Bohol Tourist Police Unit chiefs met on March 7.
The main topics discussed by Gov. Aumentado with the Bohol PPO were Peace, Order, Security updates and initiatives of the Bohol Police with coordination with other law enforcement agencies here, drug-clearing status of barangays and province of Bohol, visit of Chief PNP Azurin, robbery incidents in Bohol, BTPU concerns especially as tourists increase, ISO update, SWAT Training proposal, active MADACs in LGUs, threat assessment of elected officials here, K9 dog initiatives for peace, order and public safety in Bohol and other matters.
MAYOR PUREZA IN ACTION
Balilihan Mayor Pureza Veloso-Chatto visited residents of Hanopol Norte who evacuated their homes following a firefight between communist rebels and government forces on Wednesday afternoon.
Chatto said she brought relief goods such as rice, canned goods, eggs, noodles, water and bread for 33 families who sought shelter in a lower part of their barangay.
She said she was informed that the gunshots they heard came from a military operation against members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who were hiding in Sitio Lusad, a mountainous and remote area bordering Catigbian, Batuan and Sevilla towns.
She urged the evacuees to remain calm and assured them that the police were securing their area. She also reminded them to support peace initiatives and report any suspicious activities to authorities.
The mayor said she hoped that peace would prevail in her town and that no more civilians would be affected by armed conflict.