A man the Philippine Army identifies as a senior New People's Army (NPA) commander in southern Oriental Mindoro was captured during an armed encounter on Wednesday, October 14, and faces 11 outstanding arrest warrants, the Army's 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division announced in a press release on Saturday, October 17.
The 203rd Infantry (Bantay Kapayapaan) Brigade identified the captured individual as Miguel Magbata, alias "Mikoy." According to the brigade, Magbata oversaw the NPA's armed operations across the municipalities of Roxas, Mansalay, and Bulalacao in southern Oriental Mindoro.
Clash in Sitio Bagao, Bulalacao
Government troops from the 1st Infantry Battalion and the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion — both operating under the 203rd Brigade — engaged Magbata's group in Sitio Bagao, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, the division said. The operation was carried out following information provided by a concerned individual, according to an earlier statement relayed by the division's public affairs office.
The Army said troops recovered a high-powered firearm and assorted war materiel left behind by NPA members who fled the scene. The 2nd Infantry Division's October 17 release does not state whether anyone on either side was killed or wounded. While People's Tonight cited unconfirmed accounts of soldier casualties, the military did not confirm those accounts in either the 203rd Brigade's initial advisory or the division's subsequent release.
11 Warrants and Five New Criminal Cases
According to the 2nd Infantry Division, records show Magbata is the subject of 11 arrest warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, with additional warrants reportedly issued by courts in other municipalities.
The division said five criminal cases were also newly filed against him: three counts of attempted murder, one count of attempted homicide, and one count of murder. The release did not specify the incidents or dates covered by those cases. The charges have yet to be tried in court.
Family Allowed to Visit While in Custody
The Army said Magbata was permitted to meet with his family while legal procedures were being carried out, with assistance from the 1st Infantry Battalion under the 203rd Brigade. Photos released by the division show him with family members, their faces blurred.
According to the release, Magbata's family thanked the soldiers for his treatment and for arranging the meeting.
Major General Arsenio Sadural, commander of the 2nd Infantry Division — who took command of the division in August 2026 — cited the Army's obligation to treat detainees humanely regardless of the charges they face.
"Regardless of the number of criminal charges an individual faces, our soldiers have a responsibility to ensure that the law is upheld and that every person in our custody is treated humanely. The courts will determine his accountability for the offenses charged against him," Sadural said.
Pursuit Operations Ongoing Across Mindoro
Brigadier General Melencio Ragudo, commander of the 203rd Brigade, said troops are actively pursuing the NPA members who escaped during the October 14 encounter.
"We are intensifying our combat operations across Mindoro to prevent these armed groups from regrouping and continuing to threaten our communities," Ragudo said.
Sadural also called on remaining NPA members in Mindoro to surrender and avail themselves of government reintegration programs.
Seven Schools Shifted to Modular Learning After Clash
Following the encounter, Bulalacao Mayor Lumelito Cabagay signed a memorandum order dated October 14 suspending face-to-face classes in seven schools and shifting them to modular distance learning, People's Tonight reported.
NPA Activity in Mindoro in 2026
Mindoro remains one of the few areas where the military says NPA guerrilla units continue to operate. The 203rd Brigade has reported several encounters on the island this year, including a July 29 clash in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, that the Army said left two alleged NPA members dead and one captured.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of the Philippine Army 2nd Infantry Division