Philippine military confirms its troops has killed top communist rebel commander

MANILA, Oct 31 (dpa): A top communist rebel commander is dead after an assault by government soldiers in the southern Philippines, the military said on Sunday.

Jorge Madlos, also known as Ka Oris, was the commander and spokesperson for the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the rebel Communist Party of the Philippines.

Troops were dispatched to the town of Impasugong in Bukidnon province, which lies in the country's south, early on Saturday after the military received reports of the presence of a group of communist rebels.

Brigadier General Ferdinand Barandon, an army brigade commander, said soldiers noticed that the rebel encampment in the mountainous area was fortified with landmines, prompting the military to launch airstrikes.

After the airstrikes, troops assaulted the rebel positions, triggering a firefight with about 30 guerrilla, he added.

The body of Madlos and another communist rebel were later recovered, Barandon said.

Colonel Ramon Zagala, a spokesperson for the armed forces of the Philippines, said Madlos’ death was a "major blow” to the communist rebels in the southern region of Mindanao.

"His death will deter the activities and plans by the NPA, for he can no longer direct the communist terrorists’ violent actions against our people,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

Madlos was wanted for criminal cases such as murder, multiple murders with attempted homicide and robbery with homicide and damage to properties, Zagala said.

"Ka Oris was directly and indirectly responsible for the death of soldiers and civilians for decades,” he added.

National police chief Guillermo Eleazar placed all units and offices on heightened alert, in anticipation of possible retaliatory attacks from members of the NPA, following Madlos’ death.

"The entire Philippine National Police hails this successful operation,” he said. "At the same time, we order our police to be on alert for possible attacks to retaliate for the death of their top leader.”

"We assure the public that we will not allow this to happen,” he added. "We are coordinating with the armed forces to ensure the safety of the public.”

Communist rebels have been fighting the government since the late 1960s, making it one of the longest-running leftist insurgencies in Asia.

Peace talks between the Philippine government and the communist rebels ended in November 2017. Attacks by the guerrillas have continued unabated. Efforts to resume the negotiations have so far failed. - dpa