CEBU CITY – The Philippine National Police in Bohol on Monday denied claims made by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) that the five members of the New People's Army (NPA) who died in an encounter in Bilar town were victims of a massacre.
Lt. Col. Norman Nuez, spokesperson of the Bohol Provincial Police Office, said the NPA rebels fired at the members of the local police when they served the arrest warrant against the leader of the Bohol Party Committee remnants, Domingo Jaspe Compoc.
Because of that, one of their operatives died, Nuez pointed out.
"One of our policemen who served the warrant of arrest against Compoc died when the rebels fired upon them, " Nuez said.
The gunbattle lasted for two hours and 45 minutes, he said, and as a result, Compoc, who had a PHP2 million bounty on his head, was killed along with four other fighters.
The other fighters were identified as Parlito Segovia alias Aldrin, Marlon Omosura alias Darwin, a certain Juaning, and a 2022 Philippine Bar passer, Hannah Joy Cesista.
According to him, the policemen and soldiers who jointly conducted the operations strictly followed the rules of engagement during the operation.
Meanwhile, the Visayas Command confirmed that Eutropio Alegre Cesista claimed Sunday the body of his daughter in a funeral parlor in Tagbilaran City and was brought to their hometown in Catubig, Northern Samar. (PNA)
