CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City: A top leader of the outlawed New People’s Army (NPA) and a member of the political bureau of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) was killed in a firefight with state forces in the hinterlands of Agusan del Norte Wednesday, Feb 12, 3025, afternoon.
Lt. Col. Francisco Garello, Jr., Division Chief of the army’s Public Affairs Office here, identified the fatality as Myrna Solarte, alias “Maria Malaya”, Secretary of the armed NPA Northeaster Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) based in the Caraaga Region.
Garello said that the armed encounter between the state forces and the NPAs regional brigade led by Solarte took place Wednesday in the hinterland villages of Pianing, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.
Brig. Gen. Arsenio D.C. Sadural, Commander of the 901st Brigade, based in Butuan City, reported that “we have finally brought an end to the reign of terror in Caraga, led by Malaya, a notorious leader of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) and one of the most wanted commanders of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the country.”
Sadural said that Solarte faced multiple criminal charges, including Rebellion, Arson, Robbery with Double Homicide, Damage to Property, Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention, Robbery in Band, Murder, Multiple Murder, and Frustrated Murder.
A fugitive with a P5.6 million on her head, Solarte was the widow of the late Jorge ”Ka Oris” Madlos, a prominent figure in the New People’s Army (NPA) National Operations Command (NOC), who was killed in October 2021 during an encounter with government forces in Bukidnon.
Maj. Gen. Michelle Anayron, Commanding General of the army’s 4ID here, said that state forces recovered Solarrte’s body during clearing operations in the encounter site.
He said that former rebels who surrendered to the military confirmed the identity of Solarte’s body, the lone casualty in the running gun battle Wednesday. No casualties were reported on the government side.
