Lt. Gen. Greg Almirol, commander of the Philippine Army’s Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), branded as “lies” the claim of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) that Jorge Madlos alias “Ka Oris,” the slain spokesperson of the New People’s Army (NPA), was allegedly killed in an ambush and not in a legitimate encounter in Bukidnon.
“There is not a single honest bone in the CPP leaders’ and members’ bodies. They have been lying to the people for decades in order to advance their agenda of violence and rob the people of peace and development that they should have been enjoying in their communities years ago,” Almerol said in a statement Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Prior to this, the 4th Infantry Division (4ID), a military unit under the EastMinCom, reported that Madlos was killed in an encounter with operating troops on Oct. 30 along with another comrade, Eighfel dela Pena alias “Ka Pika.”
However, CPP spokesperson Marco Valbuena alleged that Madlos and dela Pena were killed by the military in a cold-blooded ambush in Impasug-ong town on Oct. 29 while en route to a hospital for treatment.
Almerol said the CPP’s allegation meant “nothing” but a “final attempt to save face using a tired trope” to discredit the military’s work.
“The CPP’s official statement of lies is nothing new. It was nothing but an overused line that the CPP has been using for many years whenever they find themselves in a disadvantaged position,” the EastMinCom commander said.
“If they must lie, they should at least be original to sound convincing. In this case, they have failed to persuade the people by using the same lie over and over again,” he added.
Maj. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., 4ID commander, noted that the burden of proof that Madlos was killed in a fake clash was on the CPP and not the military.
Almerol urged the public not to be swayed by the “deception” of the CPP leadership even as he reiterated that Madlos died in a legitimate military operation.
He also expressed condolences to the family of Madlos while assuring them that his body would be released to them so that he can be accorded with a proper funeral.
Madlos’ wife, Myrna Sularte alias “Maria Malaya,” secretary of the NPA’s North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC), called for an independent autopsy on his husband’s cadaver, according to the CPP.