Gov. Arthur Yap, Cong. Edgar Chatto and some Bohol mayors with the key officials of the police and the military gathered to map out plans and programs to ensure the maintenance of peace and order in the province amidst the reported increased movements of communist terrorist groups (CTG).
As this developed, the governor asked the help of various mayors and barangay officials of Bohol to keep the province peaceful.
On Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, Yap met with the commanding general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Central Command Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan and the Police Regional Director for Central Visayas of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo to discuss peace and order issues in the province.
The governor reported that Trinidad mayor Judith Cajes, Sevilla mayor Juliet Dano, Mabini mayor Juanito Jayoma, Batuan mayor Antonino Jumawid, Bilar mayor Manuel Jayectin, Dimiao mayor Randolph Ang, Antequera Lilioso Nunag and Catigbian mayor Elizabeth Mandin were in attendance in during the said meeting.
The maintenance of peace and order is a crucial element in the preparations for the full opening of Bohol’s tourism industry, the governor stressed.
“Karon pa daan. Kinahanglan nato nga pangandaman ang pagbalik sa pagabli ug balik sa atong turismo, sa karong tuiga ug dili na mahitabo kon dili nato maseguro nga hapsay ug malinawon ang atong katilingban.” the governor mentioned during the press conference.
He urged the Boholanos to not listen to the propaganda of the CTG.
The CTG refers to forces aligned with the New People’s Army (NPA) the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
“Awhagon nako ang tanan nga dili nato biyaan ang atong local situation or dile ta magpabira sa mga propaganda o sa mga hulga sa mga communist terrorist groups. Nanghinaut ta nga mokugi ta ubos sa balaod para sa maayong kaugmaon sa atong mga kapamilya,” the governor uttered in the same press conference.
Yap disclosed that there are armed men, presumed to be members of CTG, moving around the province.
“As of today [Friday] there are continuing movements of CTG forces in the province, which we have to address. Especially, as we solve this problem sa Covid [Coronavirus disease] 19, especially when the bakuna is going to be released all over the country, pangandaman nato ang pagbalik sa kusog sa tourism economy sa Bohol by making sure that peace and order is addressed in our province as early as now,” Yap emphasized.
The governor expressed his concern that even with the pandemic, there are increasing movements of CTG in the barangays here. He asked the help of the barangay officials in keeping peace and order by providing critical pieces of information to the security forces.
“We need your [barangay officials] participation on the ground sa atong mga programa,” the governor said.
In a short telephone interview last night just before deadline, Board Member Ricky Masamayor relayed to The Bohol Tribune that according to Montejo, the peace and order situation in Bohol is “manageable”.
Meanwhile, starting next week, the provincial government will be implementing the Health, Education, Agriculture, Rural Transformation and Tourism (HEART) Caravans in impoverished barangays in Bohol.
“We will go back to the critical barangays that need our assistance,” the governor bared.
The focus of the caravan is on barangays with high incidence of poverty, the governor relayed the information during the press conference.