The NTF-ELCAC has given an official update as to the remaining NPA strength. Now there are only 780 fighters left.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1264624 |
From tens of thousands during their heyday, the number of New People's Army (NPA) rebels all over the country has dwindled to less than 1,000, a ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said Thursday, citing a "recent report."
"A recent report that we have received [indicates that] there are only 780 NPAs all over the country," NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a media briefing marking the 7th founding anniversary of the task force.
"That's relatively small because at their peak [in the 1980s], they numbered to about 25,000," he added.
Torres did not identify the source of the report nor give additional details regarding its contents. But according to him, these NPA remnants are holed up in the mountains, with some curious about the various programs the government is offering to former rebels.
"That's why we need the support of the media, for us to tell the public in general so that it (programs) would reach 'yung mga kapatid natin na nasa bundok pa (our countrymen who are still in the mountains)," Torres said.
Among these government initiatives are the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), which assists former rebels in their reintegration into mainstream society, and the amnesty program.
"The Barangay Development Program (BDP), which is our flagship initiative, stands as the clearest proof that development is the most enduring path to peace," Torres said, referring to the task force's initiative aimed at bringing development to conflict-affected communities.
"Over the past seven years, we have seen how communities once isolated by conflict are now emerging as centers of hope, partnership and opportunity," he said.
Torres said there are more than 4,800 formerly conflict-affected barangays that have benefited from BDP in the form of roads, classrooms, water systems, electrification, health stations, and livelihood support.
"The gains we celebrate are real, but they must be protected. We cannot afford complacency," the NTF-ELCAC official said. "Sustaining peace requires unity of purpose, good governance and continued support from all sectors, especially from the communities who stand to benefit the most."
Lots of things to note here. First of all is this new count is only down 331 men from the estimated 1,111 during the last official count released in November, 2024.
(In terms of the strength of the New People's Army, they are really weak. So they only have about 1,111 fighters left from the 2,200 last year. So that is a big reduction in their manpower. And in terms of firearms, the reduction is the same, about 1,000 firearms have been reduced.)
Since that last count thousands of supporters and rebels have surrendered. But this new count, if accurate, reveals that only 331 rebels have surrendered in the last year. That means the numbers the AFP releases about surrenderees are both conflated and inflated.
The second thing to note is that the NTF-ELCAC "did not identify the source of the report nor give additional details regarding its contents." Why should we believe them?
The third thing to note is that this report is very sure "these NPA remnants are holed up in the mountains, with some curious about the various programs the government is offering to former rebels." The scared rebel remnants are cautiously sticking out their heads to see what programs the government is offering and testing the winds to surrender at the right time. However, a COA audit says the DND has barely tapped millions of funds intended for use by the NTF-ELCAC.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/12/02/2491413/coa-flags-dnd-barely-tapping-millions-ntf-elcac-funds |
The Department of National Defense only used roughly a third of the funds it received for programs under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) from 2020 to 2024, leaving most of the money unspent and forcing the return of more than P7.6 million to government coffers.
This was one of several observations by the Commission on Audit for the DND in the annual audit reports it released on Monday, December 1.
Since 2020, COA said the DND has been allotted a total of P14.3 million in NTF-ELCAC funds. But the department obligated only P4.6 million, or 31.8%. The remaining P9.8 million was left untouched, with P7.6 million eventually reverting to the national treasury.
In its report, COA said DND's “low over-all utilization rate… indicates inefficiencies in fund administration” and delays in carrying out programs intended to support counterinsurgency efforts.
he Duterte-era task force has faced sustained criticism under the Marcos administration, with progressive groups and opposition lawmakers saying it has been used primarily to red-tag activists rather than carry out development projects. They have pressed for its abolition and for its budget to be realigned to education and social services.
Security officials and the DND itself — the task force member most responsible for internal security operations — have defended the task force as it purportedly roots out rebels through barangay development programs, among others.
But the audit report released Monday shows that even within the defense department, NTF-ELCAC funds have gone largely unused.
According to COA, the unspent allotments translated into “missed opportunities” to carry out projects aimed at peace and development in conflict-affected communities — the task force’s core mandate under Executive Order No. 70, issued in 2018 under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Restructuring. The DND initially created an NTF-ELCAC core group in 2019, but later abolished this through a March 2023 department circular that set new counterinsurgency policies and established the DND NTF-ELCAC Management Office. COA noted that this office is supposed to oversee all programs and activities tied to the task force’s goals.
Despite this restructuring, auditors said the department still failed to carry out and obligate most of its allotted funds.
Next steps. COA recommended the DND to maximize the utilization of NTF-ELCAC funds by "identifying programs and projects, ensuring their alignment with the objective of attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, and ensuring that they are implemented to achieve intended impact.
The department, COA said, agreed with the recommendation during its exit conference on March 31, 2025.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1264650 |
A ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has called on the public to help the government maintain and protect the hard-won gains against the communist insurgents and its allies.
"The gains are real, but they are fragile if we grow complacent. Peace is not the job of one agency. It is the shared responsibility of a whole nation,” NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said as the anti-communist body celebrated its 7th year anniversary Thursday night.
He also called on all Filipinos for sustained unity and vigilance.
“If we want conflict never to return, if we want communities to remain safe, if we want our children to grow up free from fear, then we must all defend unity, protect peace, and sustain inclusive development," Torres stressed.
He highlighted the Barangay Development Program (BDP) as a cornerstone of the government’s peace strategy in achieving these gains.
Since 2021, the BDP has delivered PHP36.82 billion worth of projects to 4,830 formerly conflict-affected barangays, benefiting more than 15.8 million Filipinos.
“Development – not terror – wins. These are real roads, classrooms, water systems, health stations, and livelihood projects that extremists can never provide,” Torres said.
Responding to calls to defund the program, Torres clarified that NTF-ELCAC does not handle BDP funds.
“Barangays identify their needs, local governments implement the projects, and we ensure transparency and strict monitoring,” he said, stressing that “attacking the BDP is an attack on the poorest communities.”
Torres also reported significant gains in reintegration through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and the government’s Amnesty Program.
From 2019 to 2025, a total of 50,907 individuals from various threat groups have returned to the fold of the law, including 15,670 New People's Army members, and over 10,000 firearms were surrendered nationwide.
“Thousands of former rebels are choosing the path of peace. They are returning to society with restored rights, livelihood, and renewed hope," Torres said.
“These are not negotiations on paper – these are concrete collapses of armed structures,” he said.
Navy Captain Ferdinand Buscato, executive director of the government’s Task Force Balik-Loob, said the 17,958 returnees from July 1, 2016 to May 28, 2021 include 3,684 New People's Army (NPA) regulars, 2,039 members of the Militia ng Bayan, 1,736 from underground mass organizations, 636 from Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad, and 7,074 communist mass supporters.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1439527/esperon-sees-police-leading-counterinsurgency-if-npa-numbers-fall-by-1500-fighters |
The police could take the lead role in dealing with communist insurgency once New People’s Army (NPA) strength has declined by 1,500 fighters, according to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon on Monday (May 31).
There are still currently 4,000 regular NPA members, according to Esperon, who is also vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac).
“Personally, this is just personal, if we could reduce the strength by another 1,500 then they can become a concern for the police, like they are already bandits,” Esperson said at an online press briefing.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1264485 |
The government has moved toward ensuring that barangays formerly controlled by the New People's Army (NPA) remain free of the communist rebels' influence.
"This ensures that hard-won peace is irreversible and that communities once trapped in fear now move toward stability, governance, and development," the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said Wednesday.
In a statement, the anti-communist body said this is a "decisive new phase" of its peace campaign aimed at securing, sustaining, and insulating the barangays from NPA influence.
"This new phase signals a clear national resolve: no liberated barangay will fall back into fear. No hard-won peace will be surrendered," it said.
This step is included in the Joint Regional Task Force (JRTF) Operational Plans that National Security Adviser and NTF-ELCAC Vice Chairman Eduardo Año approved during the task force's Inter-Regional and Inter-Cluster Summit held in Quezon City on Nov. 27 and 28.
Año's approval, the NTF-ELCAC said, affirms the plans' alignment with national peace and development priorities and authorizes their synchronized nationwide implementation.
During the event, NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. challenged participants – leaders of all JRTFs and National Clusters – to anchor the implementation of the plans on integrity, unity, and accountability.
"Treat these plans not as mere documents, but as our shared pledge to the Filipino people. Let us be honest in our assessments. Bold in our ideas. Firm in our accountability. And united in our commitment to Build Peace Better," Torres told the participants.
But with a 31% utilization rate over the past five years cumulatively that does not pan out. Where is the money going? The NTF-ELCAC needs to be audited.
Another non-existent NPA leader has been killed in a firefight. This time in Negros.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/02/npa-leader-killed-in-negros-occidental-clash |
A squad leader of the dismantled Central Negros 2 (CN2) of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter with the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday morning, Dec. 2.
Lt. Col. Ziegfred Tayaban, 94th IB commander, identified the fatality as Ka Marcos, a resident of Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City.
Tayaban said that Ka Marcos was allegedly involved in the killings of civilians in Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, and Binalbagan in Negros Occidental.
Tayaban said troops responded to a report from relatives of an NPA couple alleging that some communist rebels were extorting from farmers in the hinterland barangay.
While the soldiers were scouring the area, they encountered at least five NPA rebels past 7 a.m. No injuries were reported on the government side.
Recovered from the encounter site were an M16 rifle, several ammunition, grenades, subversive documents, NPA flag, and personal belongings.
Tayaban said the body of the slain rebel is still at the encounter site. They will be coordinating with the local government. Pursuit operation is ongoing against the fleeing rebels.
He said that no civilians were harmed or affected in the firefight.
Tayaban said the death of Ka Marcos will affect the rebel group in their attempt to regain the support of the community. He said this may serve as warning to those who are still with the armed struggle to surrender.
Funny how the allegedly leaderless NPA keeps giving up leaders to the fight. The AFP is also passing this off as a big blow but that's what they always say.
In Samar two soldiers were killed in a firefight with the NPA. The Army has said they will not let up.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1264560 |
The Philippine Army (PA) has vowed relentless operations against New People's Army (NPA) "remnants" following Wednesday's clash in Samar that resulted in the deaths of two soldiers.
In a statement Wednesday night, PA chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete called on the remaining NPA members to "abandon armed struggle and pursue peaceful reintegration."
"We will have no letup as troops continue to track down and pursue communist terrorist group remnants," he warned.
Nafarette issued the statement following the clash between the 46th Infantry Battalion and NPA rebels in San Jose de Buan, Samar on the wee hours of Wednesday where two soldiers were killed.
Initial information revealed that the two fatalities are both technical sergeants, but the PA has yet to officially release their names.
The clash was triggered by reports of NPA presence in upland Barangay Babaclayon where the insurgents forcibly occupied private properties and used them as hideouts.
"Our fallen soldiers served with courage and dedication, and their sacrifice will not be forgotten," Nafarette said of the two fatalities.
"Security operations will continue, to ensure the protection of local communities."
The PA commander also assured the families of the two soldiers of the military's full support during what he described as a "difficult time."
The fourth-class San Jose de Buan town with a population of nearly 8,000 is one of the NPA’s strongholds in Samar Island, considering its strategic location within the tri-boundaries of Northern, Eastern and Samar provinces.
And as they say this another year comes to a close. Another year full of the same promises and swagger. Another year full of the dead.
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