Manila: Indigenous people (IP) leaders in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur praised the Philippine Army for the neutralization of communist New People's Army (NPA) leader Edilberto Daval, alias Waco. Daval, identified as the second deputy secretary of the executive committee of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) and commanding officer of its Regional Operations Command (ROC), was killed in a clash with government forces in Barangay Bayan, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur on Monday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the IP leaders described Daval as 'a notorious butcher of IP leaders and members,' citing his years of leading harassment, intimidation, and extortion in indigenous communities. 'Daval led the ambush-slaying of Hawudon Jumar Bucales, the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Lianga, Surigao del Sur, on Oct. 4, 2020,' Datu Rico Maca, the IPMR of San Miguel, said in an interview on Tuesday. Maca said Bucales was a staunch defender of the ancestral lands and communities of the Manobo tribe against NPA intimidation and extortion.

'Daval also ordered the killing of Datu Rexan Brital, one of our leaders in Barangay Bolhoon, San Miguel, in 2018,' he added. As head of the ROC, Daval further directed harassment and extortion against IP communities across Surigao del Sur. 'This is justice for the IP in our province, and we are thankful to the Philippine Army for their recent accomplishment,' Maca said.

Another IP leader, Datu Samuel Behing, the IPMR of Sibagat, Agusan del Sur also welcomed the report of Daval's death. 'The towns of Sibagat and San Miguel, though in separate provinces, are close neighbors, especially our IP communities in far-flung barangays,' Behing said. He noted that for years, NPA rebels caused destruction, created problems, and blocked government programs intended to benefit isolated IP communities.

'We welcome these developments, especially the success of the Army's continuing operations, which have led to the neutralization of NPA leaders and members,' Behing said. He also recalled that NPA rebels killed his father, Datu Boy Behing, then president of the Association of Barangay Captains in Sibagat, in 2009. 'We look forward to the implementation of more development programs and projects in our IP communities as insurgency slows down with the surrender of rebels and the neutralization of their leaders,' he said.