Kalinaw News: Number 1 Most Wanted CPP/NPA/NDF Leader in Mindanao killed

Posted to Kalinaw News (Jan 6, 2022): Number 1 Most Wanted CPP/NPA/NDF Leader in Mindanao killed



MAWAB, Davao de Oro – Menandro Villanueva alias BOK, the longest-serving Secretary of Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC), currently the Secretary of Komisyong Mindanao (KOMMID), Commanding Officer of the NPA’s National Operations Command (NOC), and member of the POLITBURO of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) was killed in an encounter against the troops under 1001st Infantry Brigade at Brgy Libudon, Mabini, Davao de Oro on Wednesday evening, January 5, 2022.

A concerned citizen reported the presence of the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) disrupting the peace in said area. Immediately, 1001st Brigade under the leadership of Brigadier General Jesus P Durante III, who is still in Focused Military Operations (FMO) deployed its troops to verify the veracity of the report which resulted in an armed engagement with the Regional Headquarters, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (RHQ-SMRC) where alias BOK was co-located. Alias BOK was hit in several parts of his body resulting in his demise. Troops are still conducting pursuit operations to the fleeing CNTs.

In his statement, BGen Durante commended the troops’ prompt and deliberate actions which further contributed to the peace efforts of the whole Davao Region.

Villanueva is one of the founding members of the NPA in Mindanao during the 1970s together with Edgar Jopson. During his student years in Ateneo de Manila, he was an activist under the Kabataang Makabayan (KM) and went underground when Martial Law was declared. Alias BOK supervised the operations of the CPP/NPA in the whole of Mindanao and directly controlled the operations of the New People’s Army (NPA) as head of the National Operations Command of the NPA.

“The 51 years reign of terror of Menandro Villanueva is finally over. His victims were finally given justice. Alias Bok has several warrants of arrests to include multiple murder, double frustrated murder, arson, robbery with intimidation, rebellion, among others,” said Durante.

He further renewed his call to the fleeing NPAs, “Surrender now while you still can. Don’t wait to suffer the same fate as Menandro Villanueva. The government is always willing to accept you if you decide to return to the folds of the law.” Durante added.

Meanwhile, MGen Ernesto C Torres Jr, Commander 10ID commended all Agila Troopers especially the 1001st Infantry Brigade for their outstanding performance in pursuing the top leadership of the SMRC and KOMMID.

“This is a clear manifestation that the CPP/NPA in the whole Mindanao is losing ground. Mindanao’s most wanted terrorist is now finally neutralized by your Agila Troopers. They have nowhere to hide because the masses are already fed up with the abuses and extortion they perpetrated for more than five decades. The death of Menandro Villanueva signals that the end of the Communist insurgency in Mindanao is already at hand.” MGen Torres added.

It can be recalled that troops of the 1001st Brigade also figured in an armed engagement with the same group last December 24, 2021, that resulted in the death of Anna Sandra Reyes alias Kaye, the Secretary of Regional White Area Committee (RWAC), SMRC.

The death of the two top personalities of the Central Committee of the CPP/NPA is a colossal blow that makes its downfall irreversible. 10ID is still in pursuit against known NPA personalities namely Eric Casilao alias WALLY/ELIAN, and his party wife May Casilao alias GAB, both high ranking members of SMRC.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/number-1-most-wanted-cpp-npa-ndf-leader-in-mindanao-killed/