The Philippine military has announced the death of Myrna Sularte, better known by her nom de guerre “Maria Malaya,” a high-ranking leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the Caraga region.
Sularte, the widow of the late NPA commander Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, was killed during a series of encounters with government forces in the hinterlands of Barangay Pianing, Butuan City, on February 12, 2025.
According to Brigadier General Michele Anayron Jr., commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, the initial skirmishes began early in the morning, with the final confrontation occurring around 1:20 p.m. Sularte was identified by former rebels who recognized her distinctive features, including missing front teeth and white hair.
A High-Ranking NPA Leader with a Controversial Legacy
Sularte held significant positions within the NPA, serving as the secretary of the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee and as a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ political bureau. She was also facing multiple criminal charges, including rebellion, murder, and kidnapping.
Her death follows the demise of her husband, Ka Oris, who was killed in a military operation in Bukidnon in October 2021.
Brigadier General Anayron expressed hope that Sularte’s death would lead to the surrender of remaining NPA members in the region, stating, “We have offered them the path of peace countless times, yet they have never listened or given us a chance.”
The Government’s Intensified Crackdown on the NPA
The military’s operation underscores the ongoing conflict between government forces and the NPA, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the Philippine government.
As the nation grapples with this decades-long insurgency, the death of a key figure like Sularte marks a significant development in the government’s efforts to quell communist rebellion in the country.
