A lawyer who allegedly got recruited by the New People's Army (NPA) was among those killed in an armed encounter between the state forces and the communist group in Bilar, Bohol last Friday, February 23, the Philippine Army said.
Col. Louie Dema-ala, Philippine Army spokesperson, said Hannah Jay Cesista alias "Maya / Lean" was a member of the NPA's Bohol Party Committee-Defunct, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (BPC [D] KR-NCBS).
"Yes, she was a lawyer who passed the Bar," Dema-ala confirmed on Saturday, February 24.
Data from the Supreme Court showed that Cesista was among the 3,992 successful passers of the Bar Examinations in 2022.
Dema-ala said Cesista was supposedly the "party wife" of Parlito Segovia alias "Aldrin", the assistant squad leader and political guide of the BPC (D) KR-NCBS.
"She [was] a member of the BPC and the party wife of Parlito Segovia alias Aldrin [who was] also killed during the encounter," the army spokesman stated.
"Sometime in 2020, she entered the NPA," he added.
According to the military, Cesista hailed from Catubig, Northern Samar. She studied her preparatory course for law at the University of the Philippines - Cebu and completed her law degree at the University of Cebu - Banilad Campus before she passed the bar exams.
Dema-ala said it was "tragic" that Cesista and her comrades were deceived by the communist group "to partake in a false revolution which led to their senseless demise."
It can be recalled that elements of the 47th Infantry Battalion (47IB) and 21st Special Forces Company (21SFC) with the Philippine National Police (PNP) encountered the remnants of the BPC (D) KR-NCBS during the service of a warrant of arrest against their pinpointed squad leader, Domingo Compoc alias "Silong / Cobra / Eloy / Jing".
Five alleged members of the BPC died in the clash which started at 6:50 a.m. and ended at 9:35 a.m.
They were identified as Compoc, Cesista, Segovia, and squad members Marlon Omosura alias "Darwin" and alias "Juaning".
Meanwhile, a member of the Bohol Provincial Police Office also died in the clash, Police Corporal Gilbert Amper, while Patrolman Gerard Rollon was injured and now recuperating at a hospital.
According to the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), Compoc was a former commanding officer of the Sandatahang Yunit Pangpropaganda (SYP) Platoon of the BPC, and had a P2.6 million bounty on his head. He was allegedly wanted for a string of criminal charges including rebellion, homicide, attempted homicide, theft, multiple murder, frustrated murder, and robbery.
The 3ID added that Compoc was also the father of a certain Jingler alias "Keth", who was killed in an encounter with government forces in Bilar in September 2023.
"The encounter in Bilar delivered a significant blow to the ranks of the CTG's recovery group in Bohol. Since the successful neutralization of the CTG's recovery team by government forces during the September 2023 encounter in Bohol, our relentless pursuit continues against their top leader, Domingo Compoc, and other remnants of the BPC," Major Gen. Marion Sison, commander of 3ID, said.
"This commitment is driven by our goals to serve justice to the victims of crimes committed by Compoc's group and to ensure that any attempts by the CTG to regain influence in Bohol will not prosper, guaranteeing the safety of the province and its people," he added.
Sison and Dema-ala extended the military's sympathies to the bereaved families of the slain PNP personnel as well as the five rebels even as they called on other remnants of the BPC to "surrender peacefully."
"The Philippine Army will not hesitate and is always ready to use its force against peace spoilers who will continue to espouse terrorism," Dema-ala said.
"Stop attempting to regain your influence in Bohol to avoid misfortune. You will never succeed, as all sectors stand united in protecting the province. Come forward and return to your government and family, who genuinely care for your well-being," Sison furthered.
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