Mine attack planner, 4 other rebels slain in clash

MANILA, Philippines - The Army yesterday confirmed the death of five communist insurgents, including a rebel leader believed to be one of the planners of the attack on mining firms in Surigao del Norte this month.

Maj. Eugenio Osias IV, spokesman of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said the five rebels were killed in a clash with soldiers last Oct. 6 in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.

Their deaths were confirmed by their respective families and relatives.

Osias said among those killed was Ricardo Manili, alias Joker, secretary of a guerrilla front of the New People’s Army’s North Central Minda­nao Regional Committee.  

“It is possible that he (Joker) was one of those who planned the attack on mining firms in Surigao,” Osias said in a phone interview.

About 200 NPA rebels torched equipment and took hostage a number of employees of Taganito Mining Corp. (TMC) in Claver, Surigao del Norte last Oct. 4.

Another NPA group attacked the compound of Platinum Metal Group Corp., also in Claver. Three hours later, another mining site operated by TMC’s sister company THPAL Mining was also attacked.

The total amount of property loss in the attacks was pegged at almost P3 billion.

Osias said Manili was also behind the recent attack on the Medina municipal police station, the killing of several former soldiers and barangay officials, and extortion activities in Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur.

“He (Manili) is an icon of the rebels. His death is a big blow to them,” Osias said. – Alexis Romero, Ben Serrano