The CPP's 56th anniversary has come and gone. During the festivities the PNP and AFP were on high alert for any tactical offenses. The Army says nothing happened and it was "generally peaceful on the ground."
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2018796/cpps-56th-anniversary-generally-peaceful-on-the-ground-army |
The Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) commemoration of its 56th anniversary on Thursday was “generally peaceful on the ground,” the Philippine Army declared Thursday.
Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala, however, reiterated that their troops would remain on alert.
“We have not recorded any incidents,” Dema-ala told INQUIRER.net, adding: “But all our troops remain on the alert and the internal security operations are continuous to ensure peaceful communities.”
Throught the past two years the AFP has repeated the claim that the CPP-NPA cannot carry out tactical offenses or even recruit because of a lack of leadership. Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division spokesperson Capt. Jefferson Mariano says that the NPA is incapable of launching attacks in the Eastern Visayas.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1240492 |
The Philippine Army in Eastern Visayas is confident that the New People’s Army (NPA) is no longer capable of launching major attacks during its founding anniversary due to losses this year.
Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division spokesperson Capt. Jefferson Mariano said in a phone interview Tuesday that military operations have thwarted plans of the NPA to conduct violent attacks in time for their 56th founding anniversary on December 26.
“They are no longer capable of conducting major attacks, but of course, we should stay vigilant despite their losses since they will find ways to commit atrocities,” Mariano told the Philippine News Agency.
He said the Philippine Army in the region achieved significant success in 2024, delivering decisive blows against the Communist Party of the Philippines (NPA).
From January to the third week of December, troops engaged in 93 armed encounters across the region.
These operations resulted in the neutralization of 41 communist group members, two of whom are considered high-value individuals and six are key leaders, the recovery of 75 firearms, 48 banned anti-personnel mines, and the seizure of 143 NPA lairs.
The high-value individuals were identified as Ariel Baselga, alias Ariel, the secretary of NPA sub-regional committee (SRC) Emporium neutralized on Dec. 2, in a clash in Paco village, Las Navas, Northern Samar; and alias Ruby, secretary of SRC Sesame, who surrendered to the 78th Infantry Battalion on Nov. 29.
Mariano said one of the significant accomplishments in 2024 is the dismantling of the Apoy and Bugsok platoons under the NPA’s Eastern Visayas regional party committee based in the boundaries of Samar and Eastern Samar provinces.
The said groups perpetrated numerous atrocities in the region, including the Dec. 13, 2019 ambush in Borongan City that killed a police officer, three civilians, and wounded 12 others, including three minors.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, commended the troops for their outstanding performance.
“These successful operations highlight our unyielding commitment in preventing NPA atrocities and maintaining peace in the region,” Orio said. “We also recognize the vital cooperation of partner stakeholders and the civilian population in achieving these milestones.”
The 8th Infantry Division continues to encourage the remaining 119 NPA members in the region to surrender peacefully, emphasizing dialogue and reconciliation over conflict.
Nevertheless the AFP remains "vigilant" as the NPA "will find ways to commit atrocities."
These warnings and claims of incapability contradict official statements from the CPP who has directed the NPA to launch attacks during the 56th anniversary.
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| https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/on-56th-anniversary-cpp-directs-npa-to-advance-revolutionary-war/ |
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines has directed its entire membership and the New People’s Army to frustrate the AFP’s all-out war in a statement issued today, December 26, to mark its 56th founding anniversary.
“We are determined to frustrate the enemy’s all-out war, recover from our losses, gain new victories and advance the Filipino people’s revolutionary resistance,” it declared. The Party credited the ongoing internal rectification movement for its current strength in overcoming errors and shortcomings in the past years.
Earlier, the CPP belied the AFP’s claims that the NPA is down to “one weakened front.” While acknowledging “grave losses and reversals in some regions and guerilla fronts,” the Central Committee said NPA units have “quickly reorganized and redeployed in line with the rectification movement” and have made gains in recovering and expanding the mass base.
The CPP said that guerrilla units of the NPA are now “creatively and wisely exercising flexibility,” and frustrating much of the enemy’s strategy of gradual constriction and sustained military operations.
“The Party’s rectification movement has inspired the Red fighters of the New People’s Army to persevere along the arduous path of the protracted people’s war to rebuild and expand the mass base, defend the people against state terrorism, preserve and strengthen the NPA, and frustrate the enemy’s strategic offensives,” it declared.
It directed the NPA to “take the initiative to mount tactical offensives, selecting targets that it can defeat.” To deepen its ties with the masses, the Party directed the people’s army to “render economic, health and education services to the peasant masses, while guiding them in waging anti-feudal struggles.”
At the same time, the Party called on members to “conscientiously build or rebuild the underground movement” as these are the “ready pool of Party recruits.”
“The underground movement must be expanded in order to help conceal and secure the leading Party cadres and organizers. At the same time, it must carry out widespread revolutionary propaganda to broadcast the call for people’s war to rouse the people to support and join the New People’s Army,” it said.
The full statement can be read here. Is it all just so much bluster? The CPP has issued such statements before and nothing has happened. Did no tactical offenses occur this time because the NPA is unable or due to some other reason?
The 301st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army has been awarded for dismantling the NPA on Panay Island.
The 301st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army was awarded by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for dismantling the New People’s Army in Panay Island.President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. awarded the AFP Campaign Streamer to the 301st IBde during the recent 89th anniversary of the AFP in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
“This remarkable achievement is a manifestation of the commitment and dedication of my men on the ground in responding to their call of duty as peacemakers and protectors of the people,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Samson, 301st IBde commander.
The 301st IBde is composed of the 61st Infantry Battalion (IB), the 12th IB, and the 82nd IB, among other units.
They dismantled the NPA Southern Front Committee in Panay Island. It covers the southern portion of Iloilo province and Antique.
The NPA Central Front Committee which covers parts of Capiz, Aklan, and Iloilo was also dismantled.
Take note this does not mean Panay Island is NPA free. It means the fronts have been dismantled and the remaining members are out there somewhere.
The province of Basilan is finally free of Abu Sayyaf after the final four members surrendered.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/27/basilan-asg-free-after-4-remaining-members-surrender |
The military has declared the province of Basilan free from the Abu Sayyaf Group following the surrender of the four remaining members and four followers in Barangay Guiong, Sumisip on Thursday.
The surrenderers – Tawakkal Bayali, Abu Bayali, Julhari Bayali, Hasib Tualaran, Yusup Bayali, Marjan Bayali, Makrin Bayali, and Apong Upaman – turned over five high-powered firearms, including an M203 grenade launcher, three M16 rifles, a caliber .30 Carbine rifle, and assorted ammunition.
“We are very thankful and welcome the surrender of the Tawakkal Bayali group. I laud their decision to lay down arms and finally join mainstream society," Brig. Gen. Alvin V. Luzon, commander of the 101st Infantry (Three Red Arrows) Brigade, said.
"Your surrender today is not only for you, your families, and your future but also the province of Basilan, paving the way for peace and development. Let us altogether declare that Basilan is now ASG-free.”
Luzon added their surrender was the “best Christmas gift” to the people of Basilan and a major milestone towards lasting peace and progress in the province.
Their surrender was made possible through the combined efforts of the military, Sumisip municipal government, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Basilan.
Sumisip Mayor Jul-Adnan Hataman said their surrender is essential for the town’s goal of achieving lasting peace and opens up opportunities for continuous progress and sustainable development.
The surrenderers are currently under the custody of the Sumisip municipal government and will undergo a social integration program.
The best Christmas gift? Do Muslims celebrate Christmas? Now they can apply for E-CLIP benefits and amnesty.
Amnesty has been granted to rebels of all kinds be they Communists or Muslims. The government is enticing those eligible to apply, calling it a "holiday gift."
The government has urged active and former communist rebels to take advantage of its amnesty offer so they can restart life anew as peaceful and productive citizens.
This developed as the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru) aims for greater peace gains in 2025.
“Amnesty is today the government’s best gift [to rebels] as it will restore [all] your political and civil rights … Through this mechanism, you can rebuild your life,” said presidential assistant Wilben Mayor, Opapru spokesperson.
Mayor emphasized that if granted, amnesty can restore all suspended or lost civil and political rights resulting from criminal conviction and elimination of all criminal liability for acts covered as some of the most significant impacts on former rebels.
Among the offenses covered under the program include rebellion or insurrection, conspiracy to commit rebellion, sedition, illegal possession of firearms, ammunition or explosives, and relative crimes of rebellion, among others.
“To ensure the holistic transformation of former combatants, President Marcos underscored the importance of granting amnesty as a key component of these efforts,” Mayor said.
Earlier, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government’s amnesty program “is (its) best policy” for dealing with enemies of the state.
Based on the amnesty proclamations, the period for filing applications will close in the first quarter of 2026.
Thought 2026 is a year away it will be here sooner than we think. Time flies fast but some ex-Moro rebels are not flying to apply for amnesty. The government cannot figure out why.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2018053/few-ex-moro-rebels-applied-for-amnesty |
Despite an earlier pronouncement by Bangsamoro Interim Chief Ahod Ebrahim that amnesty would provide former combatants a new hope and a new lease on life, only a small number of the 40,000 strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have applied for amnesty, according to the National Amnesty Commission (NAC).
NAC said only 344 or a dismal 0.86 percent of the former rebel group’s armed forces already applied for the government’s amnesty program.
“Amnesty is integral to the implementation of the CAB (Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro),” said Cesar Yano, chair of the government peace implementing panel, as it “falls under the component of the confidence-building measures, which is under the normalization track of the CAB.”
Yono was referring to the peace deal the government signed with the MILF in 2014, ending decades of armed conflict and after 17 years of peace negotiations.
In an earlier statement, Ebrahim said granting amnesty to former MILF combatants would allow them to get a new lease in life and seize the opportunity for healing and reconciliation.
“As a party to the peace pact with the [government], our priority is to ensure that the agreements in the CAB are mutually honored, substantially implemented, and timely completed,” Ebrahim said, adding that all the components of the normalization must progress in parallel and commensurate with each other.
But there was no explanation yet as to why thousands of MILF members still failed to apply.
President Marcos signed Proclamation Nos. 405 and 406 in November last year, granting amnesty to MILF and MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) members, respectively, in line with the CAB’s normalization track.
Ebrahim said it was in line with the administration’s policy of “peace, reconciliation, and unity.”
The explanation is rather easy. First of all the Moro rebels do not trust the National Government. The BARMM is literally a terrorist state within a state. Why bother applying for amnesty when they have the protection of their fellow Muslims within the bounds of their own sovereign territory?
Second of all MILF Chief Murad Ebrahim is on record saying that the MILF has not surrendered.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1162067/milfs-murad-decommissioning-is-not-surrender |
“We have not given up on our struggle.”
“We are not surrendering. Decommissioning is not tantamount to surrendering,” said Ebrahim, who is also Chief Minister of the interim Bangsamoro government.
“I would like to emphasize that the decommissioning doesn’t mean we have given up on what we used to fight for,” Ebrahim emphasized.
Why would any MILF rebel apply for amnesty if the MILF has not surrendered? They wouldn't.
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