An armed encounter in a remote barangay in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro ended with the capture of a man the Philippine Army identifies as a high-ranking New People's Army field commander carrying 11 outstanding arrest warrants. The Army's 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division disclosed the details in a press release issued Saturday, October 17.
The 203rd Infantry (Bantay Kapayapaan) Brigade named the captured individual as Miguel Magbata, also known by the alias "Mikoy." The brigade said Magbata directed the NPA's armed activities across three municipalities in southern Oriental Mindoro — Roxas, Mansalay, and Bulalacao.
Armed Clash in Sitio Bagao
Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Battalion and the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion, both under the 203rd Brigade, encountered Magbata's group on Wednesday, October 14, in Sitio Bagao, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao. The 2nd Infantry Division said the operation was launched based on information provided by a concerned civilian.
Following the encounter, Army troops recovered a high-powered firearm and assorted war materiel abandoned by NPA members who fled the scene, the division reported. The October 17 release from the 2nd Infantry Division did not confirm any casualties on either side. While People's Tonight cited unconfirmed reports of soldier casualties, neither the 203rd Brigade's initial advisory nor the division's subsequent release acknowledged those accounts.
Outstanding Warrants and Newly Filed Charges
Court records cited by the 2nd Infantry Division show Magbata faces 11 arrest warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, with further warrants reportedly issued by courts in other municipalities.
The division also said five new criminal cases were filed against him: three counts of attempted murder, one count of attempted homicide, and one count of murder. The release did not identify the specific incidents or dates tied to those cases. All charges remain untried in court.
Family Visit Arranged During Custody
While legal procedures were being processed, Magbata was allowed to meet with his family, with coordination handled by the 1st Infantry Battalion under the 203rd Brigade, the Army said. Photos released by the division showed Magbata alongside family members, their faces blurred in the images.
According to the division's release, Magbata's family expressed gratitude to the soldiers for his treatment and for facilitating the visit.
Major General Arsenio Sadural, commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, emphasized the military's obligation to treat all detainees with dignity regardless of the accusations against them.
"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 of Fleeing NPA Members Continues
Brigadier General Melencio Ragudo, commander of the 203rd Brigade, confirmed that troops remain in active pursuit of the NPA members who escaped during the October 14 clash.
"We are intensifying our combat operations across Mindoro to prevent these armed groups from regrouping and continuing to threaten our communities," Ragudo said.
Major General Sadural additionally urged NPA members still operating in Mindoro to surrender and take advantage of available government reintegration programs.
Seven Bulalacao Schools Suspend In-Person Classes
In the immediate aftermath of the encounter, Bulalacao Mayor Lumelito Cabagay signed a memorandum order on October 14 directing seven schools to suspend face-to-face instruction and shift to modular distance learning, People's Tonight reported.
NPA Presence on Mindoro in 2026
Mindoro is among the few remaining areas where the military reports active NPA guerrilla operations. The 203rd Brigade has documented multiple armed encounters on the island this year, including a separate clash in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, on July 29, which the Army said resulted in two alleged NPA members killed and one captured.
Source: Philippine Army 2nd Infantry Division press release; class suspensions per People's Tonight