CEBU CITY – Five suspected members of the New People's Army were killed while one army soldier was wounded in a gunfight that broke out in a mountain barangay in Bilar town in Bohol Province.
Lt. Elma Grace Remonde, spokesperson of the Philippine Army 47th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Bohol, said the gunfight broke out at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 25 in Barangay Cabacnitan.
Apart from the five fatalities on the NPA side, the 47th IB was also able to seize assorted firearms.
Remonde revealed that last Monday, the 47th IB received a report from some residents in the barangay about the presence of armed persons suspected to be members of the NPA.
Acting on the report, the government troops conducted a security patrol when they chanced upon at least 11 members of the NPA.
“Our troops were fired upon by the armed men and it triggered a shootout. The gunfight lasted for more than an hour,” said Remonde.
The fatalities were not immediately identified.
“We were still waiting for the Scene of the Crime Operatives so that the bodies will be brought to the mainland for possible identification,” said Remonde.
Remonde said 54 families from 42 houses in the area had to be evacuated to protect them from getting caught in the crossfire.
As of this writing, clearing operations were being made by the government troops before the families will be allowed to return to their houses, said Remonde.