The first legislative district of Northern Samar has reached a milestone after decades of anti-insurgency efforts. It has been officially declared insurgency-free.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1278761 |
All towns in the first legislative district of Northern Samar have been officially declared as free from the influence of the New People’s Army after decades of anti-insurgency efforts, the Philippine Army said on Monday.
All towns have been declared under Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC) on July 4, completing the district's transition to a stable peace and security status, military officials said.
The declaration was made during a ceremony at the provincial capitol in Catarman town attended by officials from the national, regional, provincial and municipal governments, security sector leaders, partner agencies, and other stakeholders.
“The declaration reflects the gains of the government's whole-of-nation approach in addressing insurgency through security operations, governance reforms, socio-economic programs, and community participation,” the Army’s 8th Infantry Division said in a statement.
All areas in the first congressional district in Northern Samar have now attained a rebel-free status through the combined efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, local government units, national government agencies, civil society organizations, and local communities.
Northern Samar's 1st congressional district covers the western half of the province, comprising 14 municipalities: Allen, Biri, Bobon, Capul, Catarman, Lavezares, Lope de Vega, Mondragon, Rosario, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Jose, San Vicente, and Victoria.
According to the military, the improved peace and security situation is expected to support the continued delivery of government services, expand livelihood opportunities, strengthen local businesses, and improve access to education and other basic services in formerly conflict-affected communities.
The 8th Infantry Division said the declaration does not mark the end of peacebuilding efforts.
"The peace that we enjoy today is the result of the sacrifices of our soldiers, police officers, public servants, and civilians who courageously served our communities. The highest tribute we can give them is to ensure that violence will never return to our communities. The peace they fought for must be protected and passed on to the next generation," the Army stated.
The military said it will continue working with local government units, partner agencies, and communities in Northern Samar to preserve the gains of peace and support development initiatives across the province.
Despite being rebel-free the military will remain in the area to "preserve the gains of peace and support development initiatives across the province."
In the Ilocos Region 37 rebels withdrew their support from communist-lead organizations.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2257329/37-surrender-withdraw-support-from-communist-groups-in-ilocos-region |
Thirty-seven individuals in the Ilocos Region disengaged from communist-linked organizations in June, the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO-1) said.
In a statement on Friday (Jult 3), PRO-1 said that from June 1 to 30, 19 members of Communist Front Organizations (CFOs) voluntarily surrendered, while 11 individuals formally withdrew their support for the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
Three alleged members of the Communist-NPA Terrorist (CNT) group also surrendered, while four members of Underground Mass Organizations (UGMOs) returned to the fold of the law.
Police said the accomplishment was part of the government’s whole-of-nation approach to ending local communist armed conflict through sustained law enforcement operations, community engagement, and peace-building initiatives aimed at encouraging members and supporters to abandon the armed struggle and reintegrate into society.
Brig. Gen. Jovencio Badua Jr., PRO-1 regional director, credited the gains to the sustained efforts of police units and partner agencies in promoting peace and security across the region.
“Every individual who chooses to reject violence and return to the fold of the law represents another step toward lasting peace in our communities,” Badua said.
Actually it looks like only 3 rebels surrendered while everyone else was some kind of mass-supporter. At least the numbers are broken down here. They usually are not.
The Army claims there are no recruitment activities happening in Talaingod.
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| https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/army-no-npa-recruitment-activities-in-talaingod |
THE 10th Infantry Division has recorded 300 New People's Army (NPA) rebels who surrendered from January to July 2026, while authorities continue to report no monitored recruitment activities by the communist group in Talaingod and other geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (Gidas).
Speaking during the Davao Peace and Security media briefing on July 1, 2026, at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Maj. Ruben Gadut, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said reports claiming that Talaingod no longer has military troops are inaccurate, explaining that military units in the area have only been reorganized.
"We still have troops in Talaingod. No one said the area has been left vacant because the previous units were only taken over by other units. As of my latest update this morning, we have not monitored any recruitment activity or even the presence of recruiters," Gadut said.
He said the military continues to monitor areas that could become vulnerable to recruitment, particularly in rural communities, although no recruitment has been monitored in Gidas. Gadut added that previous recruitment attempts in Masara were stopped with the help of former rebels and government forces.
Gadut said the military has recorded 300 NPA surrenderers since January, including the latest seven rebels who surrendered last week in parts of North Cotabato and Davao del Norte.
"So far, from January to date, we have recorded a total of 300 rebel surrenderers. Along with these, government forces have recovered 169 assorted firearms and 19 improvised explosive devices," he said.
Gadut added that most of those who have yet to surrender are believed to be inactive or low-profile members who remain in hiding.
"So far, we have not seen any active NPA members in the field because they are hiding. We are making every effort to encourage them to surrender. Our goal is not just for them to surrender so their names can be removed from the list, but to ensure that they are not recruited again and do not return to their group," he said.
Based on a previous military report released in January 2025, government forces had recovered or received 254 firearms surrendered by former rebels, reflecting the continuing campaign to weaken the communist insurgency in the Davao Region.
They claim there have been 300 NPA surrenders in the region since January. If true that would bring the estimated total of remaining rebels down to 480 from 780. That would be significant if true. But we shall have to wait for an actual tally of remaining rebels.
The PNP has recovered an NPA arms cache in Cagayan.
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| https://tribune.net.ph/2026/07/05/police-recover-firearms-explosives-from-alleged-npa-arms-cache-in-cagayan |
Law enforcement authorities recovered firearms, explosives and ammunition believed to have been hidden by alleged members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in a remote area of Gattaran, Cagayan.
The cache was discovered in Sitio Llaga, Barangay Mabuno following an intelligence-driven operation launched after authorities verified information provided by a former rebel returnee.
The operation was led by the Police Regional Office 2 through the 2nd Cagayan Provincial Mobile Force Company, with support from the Gattaran Municipal Police Station, Cagayan Provincial Explosives and Canine Unit, Police Intelligence Team Cagayan North, Regional Intelligence Unit 2, and the 17th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army's 5th Infantry Division.
Police said the secluded site previously served as a mobility corridor, transit route and temporary concealment area for alleged NPA members because of its rugged terrain, dense vegetation and limited accessibility. Investigators believe the weapons were intended for future retrieval to support armed operations.
Recovered from the site were three M76 high-explosive rifle grenades, four 40 mm high-explosive rounds, seven 12-gauge shotgun shells, 20 rounds of 7.62 mm linked ammunition, 134 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, two non-electric blasting caps, two caliber .38 revolvers, an improvised shotgun, firearm magazines and a 12-volt wet cell battery wrapped in plastic.
Police said all recovered items were inventoried, documented and turned over to custodial units for proper handling.
Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said every recovered firearm and explosive denies threat groups the means to carry out violence and undermine community peace.
He said the Philippine National Police will continue intelligence-driven operations to prevent armed groups from accessing hidden weapons and to strengthen security efforts nationwide.
The PNP says these weapons have been "turned over to custodial units for proper handling." Hopefully that means they will be tracing the weapons to their origin.
Another arms cache was recovered by the Army in Oriental Mindoro.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2261121/army-recovers-alleged-npa-arms-cache-in-oriental-mindoro |
Government troops recovered two firearms and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) allegedly hidden by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) during a military operation in Bulalacao town in Oriental Mindoro, the Philippine Army said Friday (July 10).
The 203rd Infantry “Bantay Kapayapaan” Brigade said soldiers from the 1st Infantry Battalion conducted combat operations on July 9 in Sitio Balditan, Barangay Benli in Bulalacao after receiving information from a Community Visitation Team (CVT) about the alleged presence of hidden weapons and explosives in the area.
The operation resulted in the recovery of an M16 rifle, a homemade shotgun, an 8-kilogram improvised explosive device (IED) described by the military as an anti-tank explosive, and a three-fourths-kilogram anti-personnel IED.
The recovered items were brought to the headquarters of the 1st Infantry Battalion in Barangay Cambunang, Bulalacao. The unit coordinated with the Philippine Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team for the proper handling and disposal of the explosives.
This took place after the 1st Infantry Battalion reportedly clashed with armed men in Barangay Lourdes, Magsaysay town also in Occidental Mindoro, the Philippine Army said on Friday.
The military did not immediately provide details about the duration of the firefight, the number of combatants involved, or whether there were casualties or recoveries following the encounter.
Brig. Gen. Melencio Ragudo, commander of the 203rd Infantry Brigade, credited the swift response of the troops and thanked residents, particularly members of the Mangyan indigenous communities, for providing information to authorities.
This was after a fire fight with the rebels about which the Army is keeping mum. It only proves the NPA remain a dangerous threat.
