New Encounter Cannot Dampen Search for Peace

The guns have long been silent in Bohol whether in the hands of the military and the police or those in the hands of the communist insurgents. We all prayed it would go that way for all times. Well, yesterday the silence was broken as if to signal that elections are just around the corner. A team of scout rangers on patrol yesterday encountered a band of communist insurgents in Sitio Cansingi, Brgy. Behind the Clouds in Batuan town. Three of the rangers were wounded and were airlifted by a helicopter to Cebu for treatment. Casualties on the side of the communists could not yet be determined as the soldiers were still conducting mapping operations as we write this column.

Initial report said the presence of about 15 NPAs led by Ka Teloy, true name: Domingo Compoc in Sitio Cansingi was earlier reported by residents to the military. Apparently the NPAs are purposely showing themselves to the population to send a message that they are still around. This is a tactic NPAs employ usually shortly before the election campaign so they could ask permits to campaign (PTC) fees from candidates. From records recovered by the military from the same Sitio last year, the NPAs collected about P500,000 PTC fees from local candidates during the 2004 elections. More scout ranger troops and elements from the 15th IB were sent dispatched to the area as of last night.

On the other hand, Gov. Erico B. Aumentado immediately directed the Provincial Peace and Order Council's Fact-Finding Committee to proceed to Sitio Cansingi as soon as it is permissible to see what help can be provided by the provincial government in case evacuation of civilians takes place. By now the few who are still with the revolutionary movement should already know that there is no way their armed struggle could succeed. First the cause for which they run to the hills and take up arms are being addressed by government. Second, people are tired of the revolutionary taxes and that is why when they can they report to the authorities any presence of armed men who threaten the peace of the community. Thirdly, their former comrades who returned to the folds of the law are now living normal lives with their families. They, too, can be with their families if they rejoin mainstream society.

Yes they may intimidate some candidates to pay PTC and perhaps they can again accumulate another P500,000 or even a million pesos or more. But they know that ultimately it will be the people who will determine whether they should stay or not. And by now, the people are tired of them. Sooner or later, they will have to give up. This new encounter cannot dampen our search for peace.