Military yet to verify Ka Roger's supposed death

A ranking military official on Monday said he strongly believes that rebel leader Gregorio “Ka Roger" Rosal had already died of a lingering illness, but admitted that such information is unverified. Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali, commander of the Armed Forces’ Southern Luzon Command, said this was based on intelligence information they received from the field. He said Rosal died two years ago. “We have intelligence report that he (Rosal) passed away long ago. He expired while being transported out of a hospital," said Detabali. However, Detabali admitted that they have yet to verify Rosal’s supposed death. “We have yet to confirm, validate it....We have problems locating the body...His family wont also say (what happened to him)," he said. Detabali said even NPA leaders and members who had surrendered to the military had no information about Rosal, who was once a visible rebel leader. Detabali also noted that Rosal had stopped issuing statements to the media. The official also said that before the reported death of Rosal, the military has credible information that Rosal’s health was deteriorating. Rosal is the head of the New People’s Army’s Melito Glor Command and the spokesman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The CPP will mark its 42nd anniversary on December 26. The military on Sunday said they would likely recommend to President Benigno Aquino III to declare a Christmas truce with NPA rebels. - KBK, GMANews.TV