[Inquirer] The person who tipped off the Philippine military regarding the whereabouts of New People's Army commander Leoncio Pitao will get the P5.6-million bounty offered for the capture, dead or alive, of the communist leader.Maj. Gen. Eduardo Año, commander of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said the tipster directed security forces to Pitao's location, helping end a months-long operation targeting the most notorious communist guerrilla leader in Southern Mindanao. He said the military and the Philippine National Police would process the reward and release it to the tipster.
Pitao, also known as "Commander Parago", was killed in a encounter with Army Special Forces on Sunday afternoon, according to Col. Harold Cabreros, commander of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade. Cabreros said, "He was cornered. His comrades left him behind and fled after the fighting."
A woman believed to be Pitao's medic was also killed in the clash. She was indentified as Kyle Limpag of Compostella Valley province.
Año said the killing of Pitao was a huge blow to the NPA in the Davao region. He said, "This is really a huge setback. This is going to be the fall of the NPA in the Davao region."
NPA Southern Mindanao political director Simon Santiago said the insurgent group saluted Pitao for dedicating his entire life to "the service of the people."
Santiago said Pitao, despite his deteriorating health, preferred to fight instead of seeking medical treatment in the city. He said, "The (military) are wrong when they say Parago's death will weaken the revolutionary movement."
Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte consoled Pitao's family on Monday following confirmation of the militant leader's death. He described Pitao as a "warrior and a friend."
Duterte said, "I assure the communists, as long as they are not combatants, that they can come here and commiserate with the family."
Duterte said he believed Pitao's fall was "just a matter of time."
“You cannot be lucky all the time. There’s always a time to die," he said.