TASK Group Bohol (TGB) refuted an article published in the Bohol Tribune which was picked up by the Manila Times on March 20, 2023, which alleged that the New People’s Army (NPA) has returned to Bohol, with camps set up in at least 15 towns.
“Hindi totoo na ang 15 town’s ng Bohol ay may na set-up na mga NPA camps. Actually ang remnants ng Bohol Party Committee were monitored as reconnecting and re-contacting only sa areas na may mga relatives sila, dahil ayaw na sila tanggapin ng mga tao sa komunidad dahil sa patuloy nilang pamemerwisyo sa kanila.” This was the statement made by Major Jayson Torino, Task Group Bohol commander when interviewed by PIMO. Task Group Bohol (TGB) has recently replaced the 47th IB whose main force has been moved to Negros Occidental.
In the TGB’s monitoring, the NPA has only around 10 armed members left in Bohol. “Napapansin at nakikita din yan sa mga indications during the last encounter na kokonti na lang sila, base sa kanilang pinagtambayang temporary harbor site.”
Task Group Bohol emphasized that the number of armed members of the NPA here in Bohol is not significant enough to have any effect on the Peace and Order situation in the province. The peace and order situation in Bohol is manageable, safe, and conducive for living. “Ang Bohol ay nananatiling isang insurgency-free province.”
It can be recalled that in 2019, the NPA was able to persuade some people to join their ranks, but eventually these recruits surrendered, realizing that insurgency does not do them any good.
Task Group Bohol credits the continuous intervention efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the provincial government in maintaining the insurgency-free status of the province. Moreover, under the AFP-PNP Joint Resolution No. 8-2022, the Bohol Party Committee has been declared dismantled.
The Task Group also reassured Boholanos and visitors to Bohol that “dahil sa patuloy na collaboration at intervention ng bawat ahensiya ng gobyerno dito sa probinsya sa pamamagitan ng ‘whole of nation approach’ in bringing services to the people, will pave the way na mahikayat ang mga armadong terorista na magbalik sa kandungan ng gobyerno.”
Major Torino reaffirmed and disclosed that the NPA has not gotten a foothold in Bohol, and its re-establishment in the province would prove to be difficult due to the continued operations of the AFP in securing the province from these elements as well as the strong and ardent support of the Provincial Government headed by Governor Aris Aumentado for the program “Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict” (ELCAC) in Bohol. (PIMO/ MAEP)
