An undated photo shows rebel leader Jorge Madlos reading news about his supposed death after a government raid in Southern RP. And on two other images, Madlos, who is also known as Ka Oris, seems relax and undisturbed by military offensives against the New People's Army in Mindanao.ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 07 May) -- A senior rebel leader of the communist New People's Army (NPA) contacted journalists Sunday to deny military reports that he was killed in a government offensive in the southern Philippines.
Jorge Madlos, known by his nom de guerre as Ka Oris, branded the reports as propaganda and said he was still leading the rebel offensives in Mindanao.
Aside from Madlos, the military also said that a second rebel leader Leonardo Pitao alias Ka Parago was killed in the same offensive late in March in the outskirts of Davao City in southern Mindanao.
"I wish to inform the people, my comrades, my relatives and my friends that I am still very much alive serving the people and the revolution," Madlos said. "The military’s 'intrigue factory' keeps on churning black lies in its malicious intent to sow confusion and demoralization among the revolutionary forces."
Army Colonel Eduardo del Rosario, commander of the anti-terror group Task Force Davao, said they received reports about the killing of Madlos and Pitao. “We have received reports about the death of Ka Oris and Ka Parago," Del Rosario was quoted as saying.
The two rebel leaders were allegedly attending a plenum when security forces attacked their jungle camps in Davao City's Paquibato District and in the neighboring province of Bukidnon, killing as many as 17 NPA gunmen.
"It is preposterous of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to base its presumptions on my mere conspicuous absence in the tri-media interviews during the March 29 New People's Army's 37th anniversary and the April 24 National Democratic Front's 33rd anniversary. I was off the air lane for sometime now for security and other important reasons," Madlos said.
Del Rosario said that the death Madlos and Pitao would be the military’s biggest achievement.
Madlos said: "The Great Communist Leader Chairman Mao once said that all men will die… but death can vary in its significance. To die for the oppressor is lighter than a feather and to die for the oppressed and exploited is heavier than a mountain. In this life and death revolutionary struggle, when death comes, I wish to die in triumph by living up to this famous saying of Chairman Mao."
Madlos did not mention anything about Pitao, but warned the NPA forces would intensify its attacks on government targets. "In the coming days and months, we expect more sustained and broadened armed struggle and open mass struggle in the island," he said.
He said from January last year up to last month, rebel forces mounted 412 offensives in 19 of 25 provinces in Mindanao that resulted to the confiscation of 300 assorted weapons, including raids on police and military posts. He said more than 500 policemen and soldiers were also killed and wounded in the NPA offensives.
Madlos said the NPA maintains 35 guerilla fronts in Mindanao.
Last week, insurgents attacked a small group of patrolling pro-government militias, killing one of them on a village in the southern Philippine province of Sultan Kudarat.
The militias were patrolling the village of Midpook in the town of Ninoy Aquino when they were ambushed by 5 gunmen, said Captain Jose Ritchie Pabilonia, a spokesman for the Southern Command.
Communist insurgents also attacked and killed a militia man late last month in Sibulan village on Davao del Sur's Sta. Cruz town, he said.
Fighting have escalated in many areas in the countryside after peace talks between the Arroyo government and CPP collapsed in 2004 following the pullout of rebels from the negotiations due to their continued inclusion in the terror lists of the United States and the European Union.
Rebel leaders demanded that President Gloria Arroyo asks the United States and the European Union to strike them off from the terror lists before they resume peace talks. Manila also suspended safety and immunity guarantee for its negotiators following the collapse of the peace talks.
Jorge Madlos, known by his nom de guerre as Ka Oris, branded the reports as propaganda and said he was still leading the rebel offensives in Mindanao.
Aside from Madlos, the military also said that a second rebel leader Leonardo Pitao alias Ka Parago was killed in the same offensive late in March in the outskirts of Davao City in southern Mindanao.
"I wish to inform the people, my comrades, my relatives and my friends that I am still very much alive serving the people and the revolution," Madlos said. "The military’s 'intrigue factory' keeps on churning black lies in its malicious intent to sow confusion and demoralization among the revolutionary forces."
Army Colonel Eduardo del Rosario, commander of the anti-terror group Task Force Davao, said they received reports about the killing of Madlos and Pitao. “We have received reports about the death of Ka Oris and Ka Parago," Del Rosario was quoted as saying.
The two rebel leaders were allegedly attending a plenum when security forces attacked their jungle camps in Davao City's Paquibato District and in the neighboring province of Bukidnon, killing as many as 17 NPA gunmen.
"It is preposterous of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to base its presumptions on my mere conspicuous absence in the tri-media interviews during the March 29 New People's Army's 37th anniversary and the April 24 National Democratic Front's 33rd anniversary. I was off the air lane for sometime now for security and other important reasons," Madlos said.
Del Rosario said that the death Madlos and Pitao would be the military’s biggest achievement.
Madlos said: "The Great Communist Leader Chairman Mao once said that all men will die… but death can vary in its significance. To die for the oppressor is lighter than a feather and to die for the oppressed and exploited is heavier than a mountain. In this life and death revolutionary struggle, when death comes, I wish to die in triumph by living up to this famous saying of Chairman Mao."
Madlos did not mention anything about Pitao, but warned the NPA forces would intensify its attacks on government targets. "In the coming days and months, we expect more sustained and broadened armed struggle and open mass struggle in the island," he said.
He said from January last year up to last month, rebel forces mounted 412 offensives in 19 of 25 provinces in Mindanao that resulted to the confiscation of 300 assorted weapons, including raids on police and military posts. He said more than 500 policemen and soldiers were also killed and wounded in the NPA offensives.
Madlos said the NPA maintains 35 guerilla fronts in Mindanao.
Last week, insurgents attacked a small group of patrolling pro-government militias, killing one of them on a village in the southern Philippine province of Sultan Kudarat.
The militias were patrolling the village of Midpook in the town of Ninoy Aquino when they were ambushed by 5 gunmen, said Captain Jose Ritchie Pabilonia, a spokesman for the Southern Command.
Communist insurgents also attacked and killed a militia man late last month in Sibulan village on Davao del Sur's Sta. Cruz town, he said.
Fighting have escalated in many areas in the countryside after peace talks between the Arroyo government and CPP collapsed in 2004 following the pullout of rebels from the negotiations due to their continued inclusion in the terror lists of the United States and the European Union.
Rebel leaders demanded that President Gloria Arroyo asks the United States and the European Union to strike them off from the terror lists before they resume peace talks. Manila also suspended safety and immunity guarantee for its negotiators following the collapse of the peace talks.
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