NTF-ELCAC Commends Military for Successful Operation Against Top NPA Leader

February 14, 2025

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) commends the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the successful neutralization of Myrna Sularte, also known as "Maria Malaya," a top leader of the New People's Army (NPA) in the Caraga region.

Undersecretary Ernesto C. Torres Jr., Executive Director of NTF-ELCAC, lauded the operation as a significant victory in the government’s campaign to end communist terrorism.

“The decisive action of our security forces in Butuan City is a testament to our unwavering commitment to dismantling the NPA's leadership and restoring peace in Mindanao. Myrna Sularte was a high-ranking CPP-NPA operative responsible for orchestrating numerous atrocities, including rebellion, arson, and multiple murders. Her neutralization underscores the government's resolve to protect our communities from the violence and lawlessness propagated by the communist terrorist group,” Torres stated.

Sularte served as secretary of the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee and was a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) political bureau. She was killed during an encounter with the 901st Infantry Brigade in the hinterlands of Butuan City. She was also the widow of Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos, a key figure in the NPA's National Operations Command.

Torres emphasized that this development further weakens the NPA’s operational structure in Mindanao, urging remaining insurgents to surrender and reintegrate into society.

“We reiterate our call for the remaining NPA members to abandon their lost cause, lay down their arms, and avail of the government’s reintegration programs. The government is ready to assist them in rebuilding their lives, but we will not tolerate those who continue to sow fear and destruction,” he added.

The NTF-ELCAC remains committed to addressing the root causes of insurgency through a whole-of-nation approach, ensuring that sustainable peace and development reach all corners of the country.

𝗡𝗧𝗙-𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗔𝗖 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗨

Ref: Dr. Joel M. Sy Egco, PhD, MPSA

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