The Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) issued an official statement Saturday addressing viral social media posts alleging police involvement in a fatal boat collision that claimed the lives of two fishermen from Malingin Island in the Second District of Bohol.
Provincial Director Police Colonel Arnel Banzon has ordered the police chiefs of Bien Unido, President Carlos P. Garcia (CPG), Ubay, and Talibon to conduct a joint investigation into the incident that occurred Friday morning, May 2, 2025 in waters between Bien Unido and CPG.
“Based on our investigation, the CPG municipal police have no connection to the boat collision incident involving the victims,” the statement read, citing information from Police Lieutenant Conrado Butil, chief of the CPG Police Station.
Butil confirmed that no Coastal Law Enforcement Operations were conducted in CPG waters from May 1 to May 2, 2025. Similar statements were provided by Police Captain Amelito Melloria, chief of Ubay Police Station, and Police Major Romar Labasbas, chief of Talibon Police Station, both confirming no coastal operations were conducted in their jurisdictions during the same period.
Police Lieutenant Jotham Guminingin, chief of Bien Unido Police Station, also issued a statement denying any coastal law enforcement operations in Bien Unido waters or neighboring municipalities.
According to Guminingin, a concerned citizen reported the collision to their office around 9 a.m. on May 2.
The town police immediately launched an investigation, determining that two motorized boats collided near Malingin Island at approximately 5 a.m.
Investigators found that one vessel—an apple green, single-engine motorboat operated by a married man from Malingin Island—was rushed to a hospital in Ubay where the operator was declared dead on arrival. His companion, a single man also from Malingin, was initially reported missing before being found deceased by a joint search and rescue team from Bien Unido.
“Based on our investigation, the boat that collided with the victims’ vessel was a triple-engine, red motorboat carrying several men that quickly fled toward CPG town,” the statement detailed. “The Bien Unido police are now coordinating with the CPG Police Station to identify and locate the suspects to bring true justice to the victims.”
Colonel Banzon has directed the police forces of Bien Unido and CPG to deepen and expedite their investigation into the incident.
BPPO spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Norman Lobrigas Nuez expressed gratitude to concerned citizens who reported the incident and assisted police in their investigation and search and rescue operations.
“Public participation is the key to solving crime,” Nuez said. However, he cautioned netizens against posting unverified information on social media platforms, warning that they could face cyber libel charges for making accusations against individuals, authorities, or organizations, whether true or not.
Nuez urged the public to promptly report crimes or incidents to the police, emphasizing that timely reporting allows for quicker response, faster apprehension of suspects, and justice for victims.
The statement comes amid growing public outcry over the deaths of Rene “Ag-Ag” Reyes and Bjay “Bodon” Manayon, two fishermen from Malingin Island. Social media posts had alleged that police officers and “Bantay Dagat” (sea patrol) from CPG town were responsible for ramming the fishermen’s boat while they were reportedly engaged in “liba-liba,” a locally termed illegal fishing method.
Governor Aris Aumentado has offered a P300,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the fatal collision.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities focusing on identifying the occupants of the red triple-engine boat that allegedly fled the scene toward CPG municipality.