Bohol remains insurgency-free — AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Bohol remains free of communist insurgents despite Tuesday’s encounter that left five New People’s Army (NPA) rebels dead and a soldier wounded in Barangay Cabacnitan in Bilar town, according to the military.

Maj. Cenon Pancito, 3rd Infantry Battalion spokesman, said NPA rebels have yet to establish a strong presence in the province.

“Is there an insurgency-problem in Bohol? Definitely... yes... They are trying to revive the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)-NPA clout in Bohol, but they are having a hard time,” Pancito said.

He said there is no “full-blown insurgency” in the province, noting that only former members were being recruited to join the communist movement.

“But in terms of expanding and making Bohol... a significant committee party committee, wala pa silang na-achieve,” Pancito said.

The rebels killed in Tuesday’s encounter were identified as Romeo Nabas, 54, vice commander of a special partisan unit; Joseph Bautista, 33; Marvin Terig, 22; Junrey Bucar 20, and Edionela Nuera, 18.

82nd IB redeployed to Cebu

As this developed, the military announced yesterday the redeployment of the 82nd Infantry Battalion in Cebu to dismantle the remaining NPA guerrilla fronts in the province.

Pancito said the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines requested the redeployment of the Army battalion.

“With additional number of soldiers to augment those in Cebu and Siquijor, we assure peace-loving people of these provinces that the Army in Central and Western Visayas will not stop its fight until it attains an NPA-free community,” 3rd ID commander Maj. Gen. Eric Vino Vinoya said.

NPA rebels fleeing Negros and Bohol islands reportedly come to Cebu.

The 82nd IB, which was previously based in Miagao, Iloilo, was deployed to Mindanao to augment the Western Mindanao Command during the Marawi siege. – Gilbert Bayoran, Iris Hazel Mascardo/The Freeman