Philippine Army Chief LtGen. Roy Galido said that the death of Myrna Sularte, alias “Maria Malaya,” a top leader of the New People’s Army and secretary of the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC), brings justice to the victims of the group’s violence and marks a turning point in the fight against terrorism in Mindanao.
Galido emphasized that Sularte’s death will help end the reign of terror in the region.
Sularte, widow of former National Operations Command (NOC) and Komisyong Mindanao (KOMMID) leader Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, and successor to Wilma and Benito Tiamzon, was killed in an encounter with the 30th Infantry Battalion under the 901st Infantry Brigade on February 12 in Sitio Imelda, Brgy. Pianing, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.
The operation, initiated early Wednesday, resulted in two encounters, the death of Sularte, and the capture of numerous items.
Galido said Sularte’s “neutralization is the most sought-after justice of the loved ones of those countless innocent Filipinos whose lives were wasted as a result of the communist group’s “deceptive, futile, violent, and self-serving power struggle to undermine the country’s democracy.”
“This marks a new era and a beacon of hope in the quest 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,” he said.