The New People’s Army-Masbate (Jose Rapsing Command) refutes Police Regional Office Bicol (PRO-5) claims arresting “NPA No. 1 Most Wanted” in the region on August 5. Police reported arresting Boboy Goyala alias Jake/Gerome in Barangay Cawayan Exterior, Masbate City, for multiple cases.

New People’s Army-Masbate spokesperson Ka Luz del Mar said Goyala is a former Red fighter in the province who went AWOL (absence without leave) in 2023, carrying away one Armalite, one KG9, and grenades. A year later, Goyala surrendered to the reactionary state through Masbate City Mayor Atis Tuazon and became a paid private thug of politicians and an agent of the military and police.

The spokesperson added that Goyala switched allegiance to Baleno Mayor Marites Delarosa after Tuazon lost in the 2025 elections. On June 10, Goyala was among those publicly declared by 96th IB commander Lt. Col. Francis Espiritu as surrenderers of the New People’s Army in Baleno.

“The military and police ridiculously present Goyala as an active member in the people’s army in the cases they filed against him,” said Ka Luz. Police arrested Goyala for frustrated murder, four counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and two cases of international humanitarian law violations.

Ka Luz said police and military knew very well that Goyala surrendered long ago and was actually a tame lapdog but still arrested him. “This allows the military and police to exploit him repeatedly to get funds intended for the reactionary government’s reintegration program,” he added.

He said the incident clearly shows the reactionary government’s surrender program is untrustworthy or unreliable because surrendered members never really get funds supposedly meant for their new life. “Instead, the military and police exploit surrenderers to apportion among themselves and pocket millions in funds, making this program a never drying wellspring of their corruption,” Ka Luz stated.

The spokesperson explained that the Masbateño masses are well aware of this scheme by the military and police, since many are farmers and civilians forcibly surrendered to claim rewards and funds. The New People’s Army-Masbate calls to continuously expose military and police deception and condemn their corruption.