Top NPA Leader Killed in Inter-Agency Law Enforcement Operation in Butuan City

NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – A top Finance Officer of the New Peoples Army in the tri-boundary of Davao-Caraga- Northern Mindanao Regions was killed in an Inter-Agency Law Enforcement Operation around 11 a.m. on February 5, 2020, at Rosales St., Brgy. 15, San Ignacio, Butuan City.

The neutralized Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT) top leader was identified as Manuel G. Magante alias Jino/Saldo, Finance Officer of the Regional Operations Command and at the same time the Head of Intelligence Special Operations Group of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).

In a report that reached Eastern Mindanao Command, Magante was killed when he resisted and fought with the AFP-PNP Inter-Agency Team who were about to serve Warrants of Arrest against him for the crimes of Robbery with Homicide (CC Nr. 5762) and Robbery (CC Nr. 5718) issued by Executive Judge Hilarion P. Clapis Jr. of the 11th Judicial Region, Branch 3 of Nabuturan, Davao de Oro.

The arresting officers recovered the following: one Cal .45 pistol with serial number 738406; one magazine for Cal .45 pistol; seven (7) rounds of Cal .45 ammunition; one XLR 200 Honda motorcycle with plate number MO 4686; one (1) unit Nokia cellphone; and one (1) Lenovo Laptop.

Accordingly, Magante was also involved in numerous violent atrocities targeting military personnel and civilians, to wit: Murder of Datu Ruben Labawan in 2015; Abduction of Jail Warden Coquilla of Compostela in 2015; Abduction and murder of Loreto, Agusan del Sur Mayor Dario O. Otaza and his son Darryl O. Otaza in Butuan City last 2015; Disarming of the Peace & Order personnel of Brgy. Mahungcog, Magpet in 2016; and Burning of Construction Company heavy equipment in Brgy. Callawa, Davao City in 2018.


Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP