AN encounter between the government troops and the New People's Army (NPA) resulted in the deaths of five NPA rebels and a police officer early on Friday morning, February 23, 2024, in Sitio Matin-ao 2, Barangay Campagao, Bilar town, Bohol.
In the video that went viral in the social media, shots may be heard at 6:50 a.m.
"Ang gikataho nga engkwentro mi last siya og duha ka oras ug 45 minutos sugod sa alas 6:50 sa buntag, nahuman siya alas 9:35 pud sa buntag sa pagkakaron ang atung hiniusang pwersa sa kapulisan nag conduct pa og clearing operation sa mga suok-suok nga bahin sa palibot sa encounter site," according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Norman Nuez, the information officer of the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO).
(The reported encounter lasted for two hours and 45 minutes from 6:50 a.m. until 9:35 a.m. Currently, our joint military police force is still clearing the area around the encounter site at this time).
The rebels who died were Domingo Compoc, also known as Ka Silong, Parlito Segovia, also known as Aldrin, who served as a political guide and assistant squad leader, squad member Marlon Omosura, also known as Darwin, Hannah Joy Cesita, who went by the aliases Maya and Lean and who had recently passed the Bar exam, and an alias Juaning.
Police Corporal Gilbert Ampi, a member of the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the BPPO, also perished, while another police officer was injured.
Corporal Ampi was taken to the Congressman Simeon Toribio Memorial Hospital in Carmen town but was declared dead on arrival, while the wounded policeman was transferred to Tagbilaran City.
According to Nuez, the rebels opened fire on the police and soldiers as they were going to serve the arrest warrants for their pending cases.
Compoc was recognized as the former squad head of the Bohol Party Committee and commanding officer of the Sandatahang Yunit Pangpropaganda (SYP), with a P2.6 million bounty.
His cases included robbery, homicide, attempted homicide, multiple murder, attempted murder and rebellion.
The authorities were able to trace the location of Compoc after a month of intelligence monitoring.
The government forces recovered six high caliber weapons, including an M653 assault rifle, an R4 assault rifle, an M16 rifle and three .45 pistols, from the scene.
They are currently scouring the area to find any survivors that may be hiding there.
It was said that four NPA members remained alive and had supporters.
Police Regional Office (PRO 7) Director Brigadier General Anthony Aberin expressed regret over the death of Ampi.
Aberin urged the Boholonas to unite and help the government to defeat the terrorist groups that are harassing the peaceful community.
“This is an operational breakthrough in our fight against the communists-terrorists in Bohol, neutralizing the remaining leaders of their decades of terrorism and extortion victimizing innocent civilians. We call on the Boholanos to unite to help the government to finally defeat these heartless criminals who seek to destroy our peace and liberty,” Aberin said.
“The death of our hero cop will not be in vain, and we shall continue doing our job well to give his sacrifices an everlasting meaning in the memory of his family and the Filipino people," he added.
The PRO 7 assigned police personnel in Barangay Campagao to take care of the needs of the civilians who were affected by the encounter.
The Philippine National Police will also give assistance to the family of the dead policeman, including his burial. (With TPT)