The death of top-ranking New People's Army (NPA) leader Jorge Madlos alias "Ka Oris" in an encounter with state forces in Bukidnon over the weekend would highly affect plans of communist terrorists to plot violence against Filipinos.
On Sunday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines reported that Ka Oris was one of the two casualties in the firefight between government troops and around 30 communist rebels in Barangay Dumalaguing in the town of Impasugong on Saturday.
"His death will deter the activities and plans by the NPA for he can no longer direct the communist terrorists' violent action against our people," said AFP spokesman Col. Ramon Zagala in a statement.
Ka Oris was the commander and spokesperson of the National Operations Command of the New People's Army and was described by the AFP as the "topmost wanted NPA commander in the country."
He was wanted for criminal cases such as murder, multiple murders with double frustrated murder, and robbery with double homicide and damage to properties.
"Ka Oris was, directly and indirectly, responsible for the death of soldiers and civilians for decades as he perpetuated a violent armed struggle that struck terror to our people who only desire peace in solving our country’s problems," Zagala said.
"The AFP calls on the remaining leaders and members of the communist armed movement, who have been misled to this senseless cause, to surrender and return to the fold of law and eventually join the path towards peace and development in our country," he continued.
4ID commander Brig. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. also echoed in his statement the end of Madlos' reign following his death.
“Ka Oris’ reign of terror has finally ended. Unfortunately, the consequences of his atrocities led to a tragic ending. Now, justice has been served for those innocent civilians and their communities he terrorized for several decades. His death could be the final blow for the eventual collapse of the communist terrorist group here,” Brawner said.
Madlos' wife NDF-Northeast Mindanao spokesperson Myrna Sularte, also known as Maria Malaya, confirmed the deaths in a statement later in the day.
However, she refuted the government's claim that there was a gunfight.
