Dead commie leader turned over to family

IN a small courtyard outside a mortuary in Gingoog City, military officials hand over the remains of New People’s Army regional top leader Dionisio Micabalo to his family over the weekend.

Brigadier General Adonis Ariel Orio, commanding officer of the Army 402nd Infantry Brigade said the remains of Micabalo were turned over to his siblings, Ronelo and Fely, who came to Gingoog City along with officials from Dangcagan municipality in Bukidnon last Saturday, July 29.

Orio said ‘Muling,’ the 61-year-old NPA leader hailed from Dangcagan town and his family wanted him to be buried there.

“There was no hassle. As soon as the PNP and my soldiers ascertained their identities, the remains were turned (over) to their families,” Orio said.

Micabalo, who was the secretary general of the NPA North Central Mindanao Regional Committee, was killed during a brief firefight with soldiers from the Army 58th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Libertad, Gingoog City on July 27.

Army 58th Infantry Battalion commander Col. Christian Uy said they have been tracking the movements of Micabalo after he made the transfer to Gingoog City from the Mt. Pantaron Range in Bukidnon where he used to be based.

Orio said with Micabalo gone, the NPA leadership is now passed to younger leaders like ‘Kumander Rida,’ a former student of Cagayan de Oro City who is expected to replace the slain leader as secretary general of NPA North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

During his July 24 State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he would sign an amnesty program to all NPA members including its top officials to end the decades-old insurgency.

Communist Party of the Philippines chief of information officer Marco Valbuena said the Maoist party rejected Marcos’ offer, calling it “a treacherous offer of amnesty and surrender.”