A suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebel, who was allegedly among a group of gunmen that killed a farmer, was shot dead by the military in a hot pursuit in Trinidad, Bohol on Saturday night, June 26.

Lt. Col. Allyson Depayso, commander of the 47th Infantry Battalion (47IB), identified the slain farmer as Ruel Quizon, a member of the newly organized Trinidad-Talibon Integrated Farmers Association.

Meanwhile, the slain suspect was Joel Soria alias "Joyjoy," an alleged member of the Bohol Party Committee (BPC). A soldier was also injured in the encounter.

Depayso said an undetermined number of armed men killed Quizon in his own house in Purok Annex, Barangay San Vicente in Trinidad town around 7:30 p.m.

Police investigators were dispatched in the area to determine the motive behind the killing.

Meanwhile, the troops of the 47IB immediately conducted a pursuit operation where they spotted the fleeing suspects in Barangay Banlasan, about 10 km from Barangay San Vicente, around 9 p.m.

Depayso said a firefight erupted which lasted for 10 minutes until Soria was fatally shot. His comrades fled back to Barangay San Vicente and left Soria's body.

A second firefight erupted as the pursuing units caught up with the fleeing rebels. However, one of the rebels allegedly detonated a hand grenade to delay the pursuing troops which resulted to the wounding of a soldier.

The unidentified soldier was hit by shrapnel and brought to the hospital for treatment. The wounded soldier was already in a stable condition and recuperating, Depayso said.

The military conducted clearing operations on the encounter site where they found the body of Soria. Also seized were a caliber .45 pistol, hand grenade, two magazines of ammunition, radio and charger, motorcycle, flash drive, backpack with personal belongings, and various documents.

As of writing, the 47IB was still in hot pursuit of the suspects to capture those responsible for the killing of Quizon, Depayso said.