DAVAO CITY –- A known leader of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) was killed when he put up a fight against military and police operatives who served his warrant of arrest Wednesday morning in Butuan City.
The Army’s 402nd Infantry Brigade in a report identified the slain rebel as Manuel Magante Gilo, 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).
The report added that the Army and police personnel were serving warrants of arrest for robbery with homicide against Gilo in his residence in Barangay 15, San Ignacio when he fired at the arresting officers, resulting in a brief firefight.
Gilo died during the firefight with the law enforcers, but no one was hurt among the law enforcers.
Brig. Gen. Maurito Licudine, commander of the 402B said Gilo was also involved in numerous violent atrocities targeting military personnel and civilians in Caraga Region.
He was facing string of cases in various parts of Mindanao, to include 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 Gilo 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.
Licudine attributed their successful operations to the cooperation among law enforcement agencies and the support of the civilian population, who according to him, is tired and fed up of supporting the rebel movement.
He added that the death of Gilo 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”.
Recovered from his possession were several firearms and ammunition, a laptop, and several pieces of evidence.-Editha Z. Caduaya
