MANILA – Vice President Sara Z. Duterte praised the military following its successful operation which led in neutralizing a high-ranking communist insurgent leader in Northern Mindanao.

In a statement, the Vice President said the death of New People’s Army (NPA) leader Myrna Sularte was a triumph against the insurgency but emphasized the problem remains as agents of communism has ingrained themselves in the government bureaucracy.

“Si Sularte ay bahagi lang ng problema natin sa insurhensiya. Kailangan pa rin nating maging mapagmatyag laban sa terorismo at kriminalidad,” VP Duterte said.

The Vice President commended the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division of Cagayan de Oro and the 901st (Fight ‘Em) Brigade of Surigao del Norte for successfully leading an operation which killed communist guerilla fighter, in Barangay Pianing, Butuan City.

Sularte was the highest-ranking NPA leader in Mindanao who perpetrated the decades-long insurgency and atrocities committed against countless lives of government troops and innocent Filipinos.

“Sa kalupitan at kawalang saysay ng digmaan ni Sularte ay ang hindi mabilang na mga biktima ng pagpaslang, pagdukot, torture at pananakot ng mga sibilyan - kasama na rin ang pag-armas sa mga menor de edad. Ang kanyang katapusan sa kamay ng ating mga magigiting na sundalo ay simula ng panibagong yugto para sa mga komunidad na dumanas ng kalupitan ng CPP-NPA-NDF,” the Vice President stressed.

VP Duterte said that despite this triumph, the threat of terrorism and the agents of insurgency remain part of our present bureaucracy.

“Agresibo sila sa pagpapalaganap ng baluktot na aydolohiya ng CPP-NPA-NDF kasabay ng mga propaganda laban sa mga hadlang sa kanilang layunin,” she said.

She further emphasized the need to remain vigilant against these agents of terrorism and criminality who remain aggressive in perpetuating their crooked ideologies and selfish agenda.

“Lumaban tayo at tuluyang ibagsak ang CPP-NPA-NDF,” Duterte added.

The Vice President’s statement is a firm reminder of her resolute stand against communist insurgency and her unwavering commitment to promote lasting peace as the true foundation of our nation’s progress.