Army general claims Mindanao rebel leader Madlos 'bedridden'

From InterAksyon (Sep 10): Army general claims Mindanao rebel leader Madlos 'bedridden'



NDF-Mindanao spokesman Jorge Madlos (InterAksyon.com file photo by Alex Baluyut)

The former commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, which is stationed in Northern Mindanao, claimed Wednesday that Jorge Madlos, also known as “Ka Oris,” the Mindanao spokesman of the National Democratic Front, has been "bedridden" since early this year.

In a phone interview, Major General Ricardo Visaya said the information on Madlos’ supposed condition came from former communist rebels who had surrendered.

Visaya relinquished command of the 4th ID to Major General Oscar Lactao Wednesday morning and will take over the Southern Luzon Command.

The Army general pointed out that Madlos, who has appeared several times before media on many occasions, such as the anniversaries of the New People’s Army and Communist Party of the Philippines or during the release of soldiers or policemen captured by the rebels, has not been seen or heard from recently.

The last known public statement by Madlos was when he announced the postponement of the release of four policemen captured by the NPA during a raid on a police station in Surigao del Norte.

The policemen were eventually released but Madlos was not present at the event.
Visaya could not give specifics on Madlos’ health but claimed the rebel leader was suffering from a kidney ailment.

He claimed Madlos has been moving between NPA camps in Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

Asked how the supposed ill health of the NDF officer would affect the communist rebel movement in the south, Visaya said they would suffer “low morale” if news of Madlos’ condition broke out.

He described the rebel officer as “very charismatic,” comparing him to the late CPP Visaya noted that it took the rebels several months to acknowledge Rosal’s death because they had to scout for a suitable replacement before announcing this.

He claimed this was the case with Madlos -- “hindi nila muna aamin ngayon, parang si Roger Rosal nga (they won’t admit it yet, just like Roger Rosal).”

Even then, Visaya claimed the Mindanao rebels were “disorganized” and supposedly saddled with misunderstandings between their regional and provincial commands.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/95119/army-general-claims-mindanao-rebel-leader-madlos-bedridden