CATCHING UP WITH THE LAW. A team of police and military personnel conducts a joint law enforcement operation against alleged top New People’s Army leader Manuel Gilo Magante on Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2020) in Butuan City. The operation resulted in the killing of Magante, allegedly a finance officer of the communist rebel group's regional operations in Caraga, as well as its head of the NPA's Intelligence and Special Operations Group under its Southern Mindanao Regional Committee. (Photo courtesy of 402Bde)
BUTUAN CITY – A top leader of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a shootout with the police and the military Wednesday morning here.
In a report, the Army’s 402nd Infantry Brigade identified the slain rebel as Manuel Gilo Magante, a finance officer of the NPA's "Regional Operations Command" who also served as head of Intelligence and Special Operations Group of the rebels' Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).
According to 402Bde, Army and police personnel were serving warrants of arrest for robbery with homicide against Magante in his residence in Barangay 15, San Ignacio here when he fired at the arresting officers, resulting in a brief firefight.
Magante died on the spot in the ensuing shootout, the Army said.
Recovered from his possession were several firearms and ammunition, a laptop, and several pieces of evidence.
Brig. Gen. Maurito Licudine, 402Bde commander, said Magante was also involved in numerous violent atrocities targeting military personnel and civilians in Caraga Region.
Licudine said among the "noted atrocities" of Magante included the murder of Datu Ruben Labawan in 2015; the abduction of Jail Warden Coquilla of Compostela Valley (now Davao de Oro) in 2015; the abduction and murder of Loreto, Agusan del Sur Mayor Dario Otaza and his son Darryl in Butuan City in 2015; and the attack on a mining compound in Barangay Olaycon, Monkayo, Davao de Oro, in 2016, where the rebels carted away 74 assorted high-powered firearms.
He said Magante was also responsible for the disarming of the peace and order personnel of Barangay Mahungcog, Magpet, North Cotabato in 2016; the synchronized attack on Lorenzo Residence in Calinan, Davao City in 2017; the burning of Lapanday Corporation Plastic Plant in Mandug, Davao City in 2017; the burning of Macondray Corporation Plastic Plant in Panabo City in 2017; and the burning of Construction Company heavy equipment in Barangay Callawa, Davao City, in 2018.
“The excellent partnership between and among the law enforcement agencies became the key piece of this victory of the people. Justice has been served for all the sufferings and deaths Magante had incurred to the people,” Licudine said.
He added that the death of Magante was "a testament that the long arms of justice will go after NPA members who continue to refuse to heed to the call of the government to surrender".
“They can run but they cannot hide for long. It is tragic that they take up arms against the government,” Licudine added.
The armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1093044
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.