FIVE alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an armed encounter with government troops in Barangay Cabacnitan, Bilar, Bohol at dawn Tuesday, May 25, 2021.
A soldier was wounded in the skirmish, which took place near the town of Batuan, which military officials described as a hotbed of communist rebels.
A video that captured the sound of the gunfight, which occurred around 5:30 a.m., spread on social media.
Three of the fatalities were identified as John Carlo Paanuel, alias Atom from Sagbayan; Christian Bautista, alias Brian from Inabanga; and Romeo Nabas, alias Marlon from Batuan.
Two of the fatalities were only known by their aliases Mia and Bucar.
Seized from them were two M16 rifles, five .45 pistols, a bandolier, three short magazines of M16 rifles with 30 rounds of ammunition, six cell phones and a grenade.
Other items found were a laptop, handheld radio and “subversive documents with high intelligence value.”
The name of the wounded soldier was withheld by the military.
Philippine Army Lt. Grace Remonde, information officer of the 47th Infantry Battalion, said that before the encounter happened, they had received a report from residents about the presence of armed men.
A team of soldiers was dispatched to Cabacnitan. While patrolling, the team encountered around 11 armed men who suddenly opened fire.
Remonde said the patrol team members defended themselves by retaliating, which resulted in the deaths of the five men.
The army officer said around six armed men retreated and fled into the mountains of Batuan and Bilar.
Remonde said they have not allowed civilians to enter Cabacnitan as they are still conducting the clearing operations to make sure there is no more armed person in the barangay.
At least 21 families were evacuated to the Cabacnitan barangay hall.
Remonde said the Philippine Army has monitored at least 30 NPA rebels in Bohol; the government forces are looking for them.