LIEUTENANT General Rex Luis Bergante, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), said on Friday that government troops made numerous attempts to encourage Myrna Sularte, the highest-ranking national leader of the New People’s Army (NPA), to surrender before she was killed in an encounter with the 30th Infantry Battalion in Agusan del Norte on Feb. 12.
“Hindi tau nagkulang sa paghikayat sa kanya na bumaba na (We did not fail to encourage her to surrender),” Bergante told TIMES on Thursday evening.
Bergante commended the dedication of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Diamond troops and the support from civilians, which led to the successful operation resulting in Sularte’s death.
He expressed condolences to her family and called on remaining NPA members to abandon armed struggle and surrender peacefully.
“It is unfortunate that things had to end this way. Over the past few months, we made numerous attempts to reach out to her,” he said.
Bergante said “Just last week, we presented 232 former rebels and their surrendered firearms to Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo Jr. However, the death of alias ‘Maria Malaya marks the end of countless atrocities perpetrated by the CTG over decades, particularly in the Caraga region.”
“This highlights the Command’s unwavering commitment to supporting those who choose the path of peace. Through government assistance, we are helping them reintegrate into mainstream society and offering them the opportunity to rebuild their lives,” Bergante said.
Army chief: Sularte’s death marks the end of an era of terror in Mindanao
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, commanding general of the Philippine Army, said the death of Sularte, alias Maria Malaya, marked the end of an era of terror in Mindanao.
Sularte was the widow of Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, former leader of the CTG’s National Operations Command (NOC) and Komisyong Mindanao (KOMMID), and the successor to former top CTG leaders Wilma and Benito Tiamzon, both previously neutralized by the Philippine Army.
“Her neutralization is the most sought-after justice for the loved ones of countless innocent Filipinos whose lives were wasted as a result of the CTGs’ deceptive, futile, violent, and self-serving power struggle to undermine the country’s democracy,” Galido stated.
“This marks a new era and a beacon of hope for lasting peace and genuine progress, not just in Mindanao but throughout the country. Let this be a pivotal step towards true healing and reconciliation as we reaffirm our commitment to serving the people and securing the land.”
The Philippine Army expressed gratitude to the Filipino people and sectors of society for their support and recognized the sacrifice and heroism of its members.
On Feb. 12, troops from the 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB), under the operational control of the 901st Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (4ID), neutralized Sularte in an encounter in Sitio Tagulahi, Barangay Pianing, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.
According to the 901st Infantry Brigade report, troops responded to information from citizens regarding armed individuals engaged in illegal activities. Sularte, alias “Maria Malaya” and “Ka Iyay,” was identified as the neutralized CNT. She served as Secretary of the NEMRC, Political Bureau Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and Executive Committee member of KOMMID.
Sularte operated in the Caraga Region and Northern Mindanao, where she was responsible for numerous atrocities, including killings, destruction of government projects, and other terroristic activities.
A native of Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, she was one of the most wanted NPA leaders in the country and faced multiple criminal charges, including murder, multiple murders, frustrated murder, robbery with double homicide, destruction of property, and other offenses.
