CPP-NPA official slain in Davao de Oro clash

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — An official of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) was killed in an encounter with government troopers in Barangay Libudon in Mabini, Davao de Oro yesterday.

The military said Menardo Villanueva, alias Bok, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene.

Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III, 1001st Infantry Brigade commander, said soldiers were responding to the reported presence of armed men in the area when the clash occurred.

Pursuit operations for Villanueva’s comrades are ongoing.

“The 51-year reign of terror of Menandro Villanueva is finally over. His victims were finally given justice. Alias Bok has several warrants of arrests including multiple murder, double frustrated murder, arson, robbery with intimidation, rebellion, among others,” Durante said.

Villanueva, who was among the founding members of the NPA in Mindanao, served as secretary of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee and Komisyong Mindanao, commanding officer of the National Operations Command and member of the Politburo of the central committee of the CPP.

”Surrender now while you still can. Don’t wait to suffer the same fate as Menandro Villanueva. The government is always willing to accept you if you decide to return to the fold of the law,” Durante urged the remaining NPA rebels.

Maj. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr., 10th Infantry Division commander, said the death of Villanueva is “a clear manifestation that the CPP-NPA in Mindanao is losing ground.”

“They have nowhere to hide because the masses are fed up with the abuses and extortion they perpetrated for more than five decades. The death of Menandro Villanueva signals the end of communist insurgency in Mindanao,” Torres said.