Manila, Feb. 13 -- Top New People's Army (NPA) leader in the Caraga Region, Myrna Sularte, alias Maria Malaya, was killed during an encounter with military troops in Barangay Pianing, Butuan City on Wednesday, the Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division (4ID) said.

Sularte, secretary of the NPA North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee, clashed with soldiers of the 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB) in the hinterlands of Sitio Tagulahi. She was the wife of Jorge Madlos, alias Ka Oris, a ranking NPA leader killed in Bukidnon in October 2021.

In a statement, the 4ID said government troops engaged the rebels twice on Wednesday, with the second clash in the afternoon, resulting in Sularte's death. Soldiers also recovered several items and perso...