A RANKING New People’s Army (NPA) leader in Mindanao was killed in a clash with government troops in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental last Wednesday, the military reported yesterday.
The Army’s 4th Infantry Division named the slain NPA leader as Dionisio Micabalo, alias Muling, the secretary of the NPA’s North Central Mindanao Regional Party Committee (NCRMC).
Troops from the 58th Infantry Battalion were conducting a combat operation in Barangay Libertad in Gingoog City when they clashed with about 10 rebels.
The fighting resulted in the death of the 61-year-old Micabalo and the recovery of an AK47, a cal. 22 rifle, assorted war materiel, and personal belongings of the rebels.
The military said Micabalo’s group was behind “numerous atrocities and criminal activities” in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Sur.
Col. Adonis Ariel Orio said Micabalo is wanted for rebellion, double murder, frustrated murder, arson, and violation of Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.
Maj. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, the 4th Infantry Division commander, said the death of Micabalo may lead to the fall of the NCRMC.
“With his death, his criminal acts are stopped and justice is served to the hundreds of innocent victims of their crimes,” said Cuerpo.
Cuerpo said it was high time for members of the NCRMC to “lay down their weapons and embrace the path of peace.
“With this, there is no other way but to yield and cooperate so that we can fully support the government’s effort to achieve peaceful and developed communities,” said Cuerpo.
