[Inquirer] The Philippine military said it has killed rebel leader Leonardo Pitao, also known as "Commander Parago", in a clash on Sunday afternoon in Davao City. Killed along with Pitao on was a female NPA guerilla.Maj. Gen. Eduardo Ano said one of two militants slain during the encounter in Pacquibato district was positively identified as Pitao. He said, "This was a series of encounters from two weeks ago, this is the fourth one. Our target was only Commander Parago as we were serving 17 warrants against him."
Pitao was a leader of the New People’s Army's Pulang Bagani Command in Southern Mindanao. He described Pitao's NPA unit as the toughest in the region, mostly operating in the mountain areas of Davao City and Davao del Norte.
Ano said, "He is the equivalent of Tirso Alcantara of Luzon, that is his image," referring to the commander of the Regional Operational Command of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee who was nabbed in 2011.
Ano said the NPA leader's death is the end of the NPA in the Davao region, adding, "He is somewhat an idol of the NPA here, now that the law has caught up with him, this is a major setback and is going to be the fall of the NPA in the Davao region."
Pitao was also behind the 1999 kidnapping of Brig. Gen. Victor Obillo, commander of the 55th Engineering Brigade. It may be recalled that in March 2009, Pitao's daughter, Rebelyn, was abducted and later found dead in Davao.