Ka Oris killed in ‘ambush’, not armed encounter —CPP spox

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Sunday claimed that one of its commanders George “Ka Oris” Madlos was killed in an ambush and not during an armed encounter.

CPP spokesperson Marco Valbuena contradicted military reports, pointing out that Ka Oris and his aide Eighfel “Ka Pika” Dela Peña  were on their way to seek medical treatment when they were killed.

“Ka Oris was not killed in an armed encounter. He was ambushed on the road between Impasug-ong town proper & the national highway at 8 p.m. of October 29,” he said in a statement.

“He and his medical aide were riding a motorcycle on their way to seek medical treatment. This is accdg to his wife Ka Maria Malaya,” he added.

Ka Oris was not killed in an armed encounter. He was ambushed on the road between Impasug-ong town proper & the national highway at 8 pm of Oct 29. He and his medical aide were riding a motorcycle on their way to seek medical treatment. This is accdg to his wife Ka Maria Malaya.

— Marco Valbuena (@cpp_marco) October 31, 2021

Valbuena said the two were unarmed. He said they were not in a position for a battle even if it is still not clear whether they were ambushed while moving or were accosted and executed.

According to him, the 4th Infantry Division supposedly staged aerial strikes four hours later, dropping bombs on the mountains of Barangay Dumalaguing, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon “to create a false picture of an armed encounter.”

Due to this, Valbuena said the rebels’ families are in a position to have independent pathologists perform autopsy on the bodies of the two to determine the actual circumstances of their killing.

“We support the wishes of the families to have the bodies of Ka Oris and Ka Pica be immediately released to them in order for them to conduct a proper wake and give all those who knew Ka Oris the opportunity to pay their last respects,” he said.

On Saturday, the military reported that Ka Oris died following an encounter with government troops in Bukidnon.

AFP spokesperson Colonel Ramon Zagala on Monday maintained that Ka Oris was killed in an encounter, pointing out that CPP was supposedly misdirecting the public.

“Being at the top leadership of the NPA, he is protected 24/7 by more or less 40 NPAs. It is unlikely he will move without these armed elements as claimed by the NPA,” he said in a message to GMA News Online.

“As such, we are firm and will stand by our troops on the ground on the legitimacy of this successful encounter,” he added.—AOL, GMA News