THE 603rd Infantry Brigade (603IB) neutralized a most wanted communist leader in a focused military operation in Buenaflures village, Senator Ninoy Aquino town, Sultan Kudarat last Sunday. The slain, identified as Emmanuel Fernandez alias Bobo/Bobong/Aldok/Ambog/Maning, was killed in a ten-minute operation by the combined forces of 603IB with 7IB, 37IB, 57IB and 63DRC. Col. Michael Santos, 603IB commander, said Fernandez has standing multiple warrants of arrest and is secretary of Far South Mindanao Region and a member of the terrorist Communist Party of the Philippines New People's Army Central Committee. 'Our soldiers recovered the weapons of the terrorist leader of the NPA including a.45 caliber pistol with one magazine and six rounds of ammunition and an M16 rifle with one magazine and 20 rounds of ammunition,' Santos said. Fernandez faced charges of arson, destructive arson, murder, frustrated murder, multiple attempted murder, rebellion, and robbery. Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Central and 6th Infantry Division, commended the troops under the 603IB and other government forces for their continued support in the operations against communist terrorist groups (CTGs) in the area of operation of JTF Central. 'The death of Fernandez is a great loss to CTGs. This will not only add to the vacuum of their leadership, but it also weakens the morale of their members who continue to flee against the government troops,' Galido stated.