Insurgency: Truth-Telling

 The AFP has announced the "the last remaining Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army unit, the Sub-Region de Gravidad" has been dismantled. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/10/13/military-last-remaining-communist-unit-in-caraga-dismantled

The Army 901st Infantry “Fight Em” Brigade announced on Tuesday that the last remaining Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army unit, the Sub-Region de Gravidad (SRSDG) Westland, operating in its area of responsibility in Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region has been dismantled. 

“The brigade achieved a major victory in our campaign against communist insurgency after we successfully dismantled SRSDG,” Col. Manuel Darius M. Resuello, commanding officer of the 901st Infantry “Fight Em” Brigade, said. 

Platun Uno of SRSDG Westland was completely dismantled following multiple encounters in Surigao del Norte and Butuan City. Eighteen members, among them key leaders, were neutralized. 

The surrender of its last two members to the military on Oct. 2, along with seven high-powered firearms, signaled the total collapse of the platoon, Resuello said.  

Platun Dos was crippled after a June 25 clash in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, where two members were wounded and later surrendered. Its leader, Ka Renren, capitulated on Aug. 22 and persuaded five more comrades to surrender, leaving only seven members active, the 901st Brigade said. 

A total of 26 members of the SRSDG Westland have been neutralized since June. 

“Only three weakened squads remain, now cornered in the boundaries of Sibagat, Agusan del Sur, and San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, under sustained pursuit by 901st Brigade forces,” said Resuello, who vowed to sustain relentless operations against remaining communist rebels.

The last two members have surrendered but there are three weaker squads remaining!?  That doesn't sound like the last of anything has been dismantled. There are hostile elements remaining and the AFP is already declaring victory. Premature victory. 

Valencia City has declared the NPA persona non grata and also been declared insurgency free.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1260895

All 31 villages in Valencia City, Bukidnon passed resolutions declaring communist rebels and their political wings as persona non grata, an official said Monday.

In a statement, Mayor Amie Galario said it was a unified stand against the communist New People’s Army, including the Communist Party of the Philippines, and the National Democratic Front, for infiltrating communities.

She said that with the support of the Philippine Army’s 89th Infantry Battalion under the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, the local government will spearhead efforts to transform communities into self-sufficient units.

"The declaration is not merely a document but a reflection of our people’s unity and determination,” Galario said.

Valencia City is the first in the Northern Mindanao Region to be declared insurgency-free through Resolution No. 153-2025.

Maj. Gen. Hambala, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, also lauded the troops for contributing to the accomplishment.

“This achievement is the result of the strong collaboration among our soldiers, local officials and the people of Valencia City,” he said.

How long has it been since they have seen an NPA fighter? 

A clash between the AFP and the NPA in Leyte put a stop to a potential community threat. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1261183

The Philippine Army (PA) has thwarted a potential threat to local communities following an armed encounter with remnants of the New People’s Army in the mountains of Javier, Leyte.

The brief firefight erupted during a focused military operation targeting remnants of the dismantled members of the NPA Island Committee Levox of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).

In a statement late Thursday, the PA said it recovered a Garand rifle, several rounds of ammunition, and various personal belongings left behind by the fleeing rebels.

According to Lt. Col. Esmeraldo Sumalinog, commander of the PA’s 14th Infantry Battalion, the operation was launched on Wednesday to prevent possible harassment and threats to residents in the area.

“Our mission is to protect the people from violence and fear. This encounter is part of our effort to ensure that communities are safe from NPA influence and intimidation,” Sumalinog said.

Government forces launched the combat operations in response to reports from local residents about the presence of armed communist insurgents in the area. The soldiers immediately engaged the rebels, who eventually retreated toward the nearby forest after a brief exchange of gunfire.

Military officials emphasized that such operations are critical in preventing the resurgence of communist activities, especially in areas where former rebel units have been dismantled.

“We stand firm in our mission to put an end to the remaining threats of the CTG (communist terrorist group),” Maj. Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio, commander of the 8th Infantry Division, said.

“Our operations will continue hand in hand with local governments and the people of Eastern Visayas until peace, stability, and genuine progress are fully achieved.”

Col. Rico Amaro, acting commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, reinforced the PA’s determination to pursue the remaining insurgents.

“Our troops will continue to pursue them relentlessly to ensure that communities can live free from fear and violence,” he said.

Army officials reiterated their call to the remaining NPA members to surrender and avail themselves of the government’s enhanced comprehensive local integration program, which provides livelihood and reintegration support for former rebels.

No dead or captured NPA and somehow this is a victory. Did no soldier think to follow them into the forest?

The new commander of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade has vowed to sustain the anti-insurgency gains in Leyte Island and parts of Samar. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1261187

The new commander of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade (IB) has vowed to build further momentum in the campaign against insurgency in Leyte Island and some parts of Samar provinces.

During the turnover rites on Thursday, acting 802nd IB commander Col. Rico Amaro urged government and private sectors to join the fight against insurgents from the town centers to the remotest geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

He emphasized that all actions under his leadership would be carried out with deep regard for the welfare and morale of the soldiers.

“Our fight against insurgency will be relentless but compassionate. We will address this problem with due consideration to human rights, the well-being of our troops, and the communities we serve,” Amaro, who was the brigade’s deputy commander, said.

The official also affirmed his commitment to ongoing government programs aimed at encouraging communist rebels to surrender and reintegrate into society, urging continued support from all stakeholders.

Amaro took over the post from Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, who stepped down after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 57.

Under Vestuir’s leadership, the 802nd IB dismantled multiple armed groups, including the Apoy and Bugsok Platoons in Southern Samar and Platoon 2 of Island Committee Levox in Leyte. The number of active rebel combatants in the area was reduced from 65 to just 13.

“The peace that now reigns in Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, and Eastern Samar is not just the result of military action — it is the embodiment of teamwork, perseverance, and dedication,” Vestuir said in his farewell address.

The brigade’s area of responsibility includes the provinces of Leyte, Biliran, and the southern parts of Samar and Eastern Samar.

If allowing several NPA fighters to flee into the forest after a firefight is a gain then what is a loss?

A delegation of the Philippine government is in the EU defending red-tagging. 

https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/10/13/news/national/philippine-govt-denies-red-tagging-calls-it-truth-telling-at-eu-meeting/2199153

THE Philippine government has rejected red-tagging accusations at the RP–EU 5th Sub-Committee Meeting on Good Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights held in Brussels, saying that past disclosures about individuals and groups linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) were rooted in evidence, not political vilification.

National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) Executive Director Ernesto Torres Jr. stressed at the conference that what left-leaning groups claim as a policy of red-tagging is in fact “truth-telling” — an obligation of government to protect communities, especially the youth, from deceptive recruitment and terrorist propaganda.

“Our security-vetted disclosures are a national security imperative, not vilification. When groups openly support armed insurgency, romanticize violence, and hypocritically condemn government missteps while ignoring their own atrocities against Filipinos, we have the moral and legal duty to expose them,” the official said.

Torres reminded the assembly that the CPP-NPA-NDF is a terrorist organization under Philippine and international law. Government disclosures linking individuals and front organizations to these groups are based on validated intelligence, sworn testimonies of former rebels, and years of security operations.

He also cited the Supreme Court’s clarification that unmasking proven terrorist ties is lawful and distinct from baseless labeling, affirming that the government’s actions are consistent with both constitutional rights and the rule of law.

“Labeling harmful substances is a public duty; so is warning society about terrorist recruiters. If we are 101-percent certain that an individual or group is a purveyor of violence, are we not morally obliged to inform our family, our friends, and the community so they may protect themselves?” Torres said.

He emphasized that terrorist fronts thrive by exploiting democratic space and infiltrate schools, workplaces, and communities under the guise of activism, only to radicalize and recruit vulnerable citizens, particularly the youth.

“Calling this ‘red-tagging’ is a deliberately misleading attempt to discredit our security-vetted disclosures. We are not silencing dissent — we are protecting democracy from those who exploit it to fund and fuel armed violence,” he said.

“Truth-telling, not red-tagging, will empower people to reject violence and choose peace. This is not just a duty to our nation — it is a responsibility to the global community,” he added.

Torres called on both Philippine and European stakeholders to stand together against deceptive propaganda and support peacebuilding rooted in development and the rule of law.

Truth-telling and red-tagging can be a fine line. For instance the AFP says the Makabyan bloc is part of the CPP-NPA. Yet for the past few decades they have offered only circumstantial evidence. If they are in fact truth-telling then they should have been able to provide substantial evidence by now.