Alleged NPA leader killed in Butuan City fighting

February 6, 2020

ZAMBOANGA CITY - An alleged ranking New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in a shootout with joint military and police operatives in Butuan City, the military reported Thursday.

Lt. Col Ezra Balagtey, public information officer of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), said the shootout happened around 11 a.m. Wednesday at Rosales Street, Barangay San Ignacio, Butuan City.

Balagtey said killed was Manuel Magante, who carries the aliases Jino and Saldo, the reported finance officer of the Regional Operations Command and head of intelligence special operations group of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).

Balagtey said the shootout ensued as Magante resisted efforts by military and police operatives who were about to serve warrants of arrest against him.

He said Magante has warrants of arrest for robbery with homicide and robbery issued by the court of Nabuturan, Davao de Oro.

He said the operatives recovered from Magante a caliber .45 pistol with seven rounds of ammunition; a motorcycle; a cellular phone; and, a laptop.

He said Magante was involved in 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 Otaza and his son Darryl Otaza in Butuan City in 2015; disarming of the peace and order personnel of Barangay Mahungcog, Magpet in 2016; and, burning of a heavy equipment of a construction firm in Barangay Callawa, Davao City in 2018. DMS