DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A New People’s Army (NPA) commander, whose daughter was killed by alleged military intelligence operatives last week, vowed to press on with his cause.

Leoncio Pitao, also known as Commander Parago, said he was “inspired” by the death of his 20-year-old daughter, Rebelyn, allegedly at the hands of the 10th Army Infantry Division’s Military Intelligence Group (MIG), even as he admitted that the incident was “painful.”

Parago, who heads the NPA’s Pulang Bagani command, granted select members of the media an interview on Sunday afternoon, three days after his daughter was found dead in an irrigation ditch in Carmen town, Davao del Norte Province.

Wearing a Mao cap and the NPA's signature black shirt, Parago appeared calm and even cracked a few jokes with NPA cadres, but his eyes looked somber.

"What they did to my daughter was painful but we must not stop. I am here not only as a father to her but a father to many other poor daughters and sons of the oppressed,” he said.

“Am I devastated? I am not. I am even inspired by her death to be relentless in fighting for the freedom of the poor," he said, adding, “I will not abandon the people because of this loss. Instead, I will continue the people's revolution."

He admitted being in pain, saying: "I am angry but what I am doing is not a personal matter. This is for the people -- a principled war."

Asked whether he had cried over the death of his daughter, the elusive communist rebel leader said: "Whether I cry or not, my tears will not bring back the life of Rebelyn."

His oldest son, Ryan, also an NPA cadre, said the death of his sister was unacceptable. But like his father, Ryan said Rebelyn had become their source of courage and strength to move forward.

"She is now our inspiration to broaden the democratic people's revolution. My sister Rebelyn will be with all of us as we struggle against a bankrupt government," said Ryan who took up arms and joined his father after surviving an attack by suspected government agents three years ago.

Pitao said he has been expecting the military to target his family because of their failure to capture him. He blamed the 10th Infantry Division's military intelligence group (MIG) for the abduction and killing of Rebelyn.

"No one has the intention, motive and the track record but the MIG… Now who has the desire to see me weakened or dead?" Pitao said, adding military intelligence agents had been following his other daughter, Rio.

But he stressed that the NPA would not retaliate and follow the approach of the military. He, however, warned that those who killed Rebelyn would pay for their sins at the right time.

"Will I retaliate? Will the NPA get back at them and also kidnap their sons and daughters and torture them until they die? No. That's not how the people's revolution work…we are civilized," he said.

Rebelyn, a substitute teacher, was on her way home onboard a tricycle from the St. Peter's College in Toril when she was snatched by armed men believed to military agents. She was forced into a white van and was heard by the tricycle driver screaming for help.

The body of Rebelyn bore torture marks and five stab wounds. A trace of rope was also found around her neck, indicating that she was strangled. The medico legal also found injuries in her genitals believed to have been caused by a hard object.

Pitao said: "I last saw her when she was still alive…I wanted to see her now, and see how they killed her."

The women's group Gabriela took the brutal killing as a government's gift to them on the international women's day.

"She becomes the symbol of the entire Filipino women whose equal footing with men has been undermined by the Arroyo regime," said Gabriela partylist representative Luzvisminda Ilagan as women around the world celebrated the 90th international women's day.

"What made it more outrageous was the fact that Rebelyn Pitao has dedicated her life to teaching, a profession that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has taken for granted over the years," said.

"Her only fault was being her father's daughter," Ilagan said.

With reports from Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao