Communist Party honors slain NPA leader as revolutionary hero

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Central Committee paid tribute to one of the New People's Army's most senior commanders, who died in combat operations in Agusan del Sur. Julia Cagadas-Lastimosa, known within the movement as "Ka Rida," was 66 years old at the time of her death.

In a ceremony held Tuesday, party officials formally recognized Cagadas-Lastimosa with the CPP's highest honors, designating her as a "revolutionary hero" for her decades of involvement in the leftist insurgency. The tribute underscored her standing within the communist movement's military wing.

Cagadas-Lastimosa was killed during fierce military encounters in the Mindanao province, according to CPP statements. The exact circumstances and timing of the clashes that resulted in her death were not detailed in the party's announcement.

The CPP's formal recognition of Cagadas-Lastimosa reflects the continued presence and organizational structure of the communist movement in the Philippines, despite decades of military operations against the NPA across various regions.