Insurgency: BIFF Carnap Gang

The NPA is once again on the brink of collapse. This time in Mindanao.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1164664

After a series of neutralization of leaders of the New People’s Army’s (NPA) Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC), an official from the 10th Infantry Division (10ID) said the communist organization is on the "brink of collapse."

Capt. Mark Anthony Tito, the spokesperson of the 10ID, in an interview over SMNI's "Laban Kasama ang Bayan" program on Thursday, said the SMRC is one of the strongest units of the NPA but if fully dismantled, all other units of the NPA across the country will also crumble.

“It is the start of the end of the reign of NPA not only in the Mindanao but all over the country. They are already on the brink of collapse,” he said.

“These neutralizations have a very huge impact in the overall operation of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA,” Tito said, adding that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA in Mindanao has only three guerilla fronts remaining and is bound for collapse this year.

“We have achieved the given timeline of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and currently we are now pursuing Eric Casilao alias Wally/Elian also a high-ranking member of the SMRC,” he said.

"We have achieved the given timeline of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte." That sounds like the AFP really will be declaring victory in 2022. But how have they achieved this timeline to defeat the NPA when there are still three fronts remaining? They are counting their chickens before they are hatched. This is the same mistake the AFP has made countless times over the past 50 years.

NPA fighters and allies continue to surrender and avail of the government's bribery program. Last year 2,000 people surrendered in Leyte.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1164789

More than 2,000 members and staunch supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered in Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Biliran provinces in 2021, stalling the rebel group’s attempt to recruit new members in these provinces.

The majority of the surrenderers were members of the NPA’s front organizations, tasked to support their armed struggle in these three provinces.

The return to the fold of the law of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA- National Democratic Front (NDF) party members, white area operatives, and mass members is a clear sign that the people have gone sick and tired of the lies and deception of the communist terrorist group,” Oliveros said in a phone interview on Friday.

As mass supporters, residents served as contacts and couriers where they provide and facilitate the procurement and delivery of supplies, food, and medicines.

NPA combatants who yielded to authorities received financial assistance from the government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).

The amount ranged from PHP25,000 to PHP75,000, with additional compensation for every firearm that was turned over.

Those front members who cut ties with the NPA have been formed into integrated peace and development workers association. They have been prioritized for livelihood assistance and skills training from the government.

Eastmincom, which is in charge of Eastern Mindanao, claims they neutralized 2,000 NPA fighters and supporters last year.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1164403

The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) capped off the year 2021 by neutralizing more than 2,071 combatants and supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed group of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

In a statement Monday, Lt. Gen. Greg T. Almerol, commander of Eastmincom, said through their intensified focused military operations and the strong support of the communities, local government units, and former rebels and cadres, a total of 70 NPA rebels were killed in combat operations; 147 were apprehended, arrested and captured; 630 capitulated; and 1,224 allies withdrew their support for the CPP-NPA.

He said the government troops have also recovered 690 high-powered and low-powered firearms through combat operations and surrender, and around 97 landmines.

“Our troops have proven their true mettle not only in combat operations but also in times of crisis. Navigating through the pandemic and natural calamities while doing their mandated tasks as protector of the State and the people made our forces even more resilient and ready to come to the Filipino’s aid at all times,” Almerol added.

Around 192 NPA hideouts were also discovered by the troops in several parts of Eastern Mindanao through the aid of concerned citizens and former rebels who shared information with intel value.

Notice how the majority of those neutralized are not actual NPA fighters but NPA allies. Aside from killing regular NPA fighters the Eastmincom recently took down the Philippines' own Karl Marx.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1164845

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) congratulated the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for neutralizing Mindanao’s most wanted Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) leader Menandro ‘Bok’ Villanueva, the so-called “Karl Marx of the NPA” in an encounter in Barangay Libudon, Mabini, Davao de Oro on January 5.

“(We can really say that the AFP caught a big fish because) Villanueva or Bok is the third in line in the CPP hierarchy next to Joma Sison and Julius Giron,” said DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año in a news release on Friday.

“Congratulations to the AFP for an excellent job. Finally, you have closed the book of Villanueva. (This is another victory in our prusuit of genuine peace),” he added.

Villanueva is the Secretary of the Komisyong Mindanao (KOMMID), Commanding Officer of the NPA’s National Operations Command (NOC), and member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Año said the neutralization of Villanueva is a significant victory in the government’s drive to end communist terrorism in the country for he is a known figure that has been wanted by the government for many years. He said that achievement brings the country one step closer to its goal to end local armed conflict and free communities that have been victimized by the terrorist group.

It's strange that Año would mention Julius Giron as he was killed in March 2020 during a raid. Did he not know this was the case?

Mindanao has more problems than the NPA and communist insurgency. They also have the Muslim insurgency with Abu Sayyaf and the BIFF among others. The AFP is attempting to turn former Abu Sayyaf members into farmers.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1164576

The Army’s 2nd Special Forces Battalion (2SFBn) has launched the “fighters to farmers” program to provide sustainable livelihood to formers members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Talipao, Sulu.

Lt. Col. Benito Ramos Jr., 2SFBn commander, said Wednesday that the program aims to put food on the table of ASG surrenderers and their families.

“This food on the table concept was a success in empowering communities in Basilan. We believe that this will also boost our PCVE (Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism) efforts here in Sulu,” Ramos said in a statement.

Ramos said the military and the Provincial Task Force in Ending Local Armed Conflict (PTF-ELAC) have constructed several enabling facilities to include a two-kilometer water system from Sitio Tubig Dakula, Barangay Upper Sinumaan to Barangay Bud Bunga in the municipality of Talipao.

The PTF-ELAC is Sulu’s version of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

He said that the ASG surrenderers from Talipao town are programmed to undergo workshops in agriculture workshops to be facilitated by soldiers who know practical and traditional farming techniques.

“They (ASG surrenderers) will also be acquainted with the use of technologies including motorized tillers to increase efficiency and yield,” he added.

Capt. Ron Villarosa Jr, 6th Special Forces Company commander and project convener of the “Fighters to Farmers’ program, said the project will help change the security landscape of the province.

“Food is peace served on the table. By empowering the ASG surrenderers and the community with the means to provide for their basic needs, we are reducing the vulnerability of the ASG surrenderers and the community to be dragged into the conflict in exchange for food, money, or other subsistence,” Villarosa said in a separate statement.

This program is part of the AFP's program of winning the hearts and minds of the people of Sulu.

http://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2022/01/special-forces-battle-to-win-hearts-and.html

Philippines’ Special Forces soldiers managed to lure two Abu Sayyaf fighters to return to the fold of the law in the southern province of Sulu where security forces are now engaged not in armed campaign, but in winning the hearts and minds of the locals in an effort to eradicate violent extremism.

Operators from the 6th Special Forces Company and Operational Detachments 14201 and 1403 of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion under Lt. Col. Benito Ramos Jr are currently conducting so-called “Mass Base Operations” and Community Support Programs to win popular support from villagers.

Mass Base Operations is a peculiar capability of Special Forces units and is conducted in challenging areas to enable a conducive environment favorable to government forces. It denies the enemy critical resources and isolates them from mass support, attacking critical vulnerabilities that empowers the enemy’s capabilities.

“Through the conduct of development efforts, we are looking forward to eventually rendering the Abu Sayyaf group irrelevant in our area of operations. Together with the municipality of Talipao, the 1101st Infantry Brigade will be steadfast in promoting peace and development for our Tausug brothers and sisters,” Boquio said.

There's that word irrelevant again. That word should be excised from the AFP's vocabulary. The correct worse is eradicated not irrelevant. The goal is to eradicate the NPA, Abu Sayyaf, and the BIFF. It turns out the BIFF have been involved in a large scale carnapping operation.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1164175

The carnapping syndicate operating here has the backing of Moro extremists who traded shots with lawmen during the recent law enforcement operation in Barangay Gukotan, a police official said Friday.

Brig. Gen. Alexander Tagum, director of Police Regional Office 12 (Soccsksargen), said about 50 heavily armed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have been serving as security forces of Joel Manampan, the alleged car theft gang syndicate leader who maintains a warehouse in the village.

“These BIFF traded bullets with our operating troops during the 3 a.m. raid on Wednesday,” Tagum told reporters during a follow-up radio interview with reporters. “While the firefight was ongoing, Manampan escaped.”

The operation in Gukotan left five suspected syndicate supporters dead, three of whom were believed to be BIFF members, and four police officers wounded.

The police recovered 442 motorcycles of different models, high-powered firearms that included M60 machine guns, assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, improvised bombs, and bomb-making ingredients from the compound owned and managed by Manampan.

Tagum said after receiving reports about the presence of hundreds of stolen motorcycles, the North Cotabato police conducted intensive intelligence operations for more than a month.

“As soon as reports from civilians were verified, the law enforcement operation was conducted in partnership with the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade,” he said.

That's a lot of weaponry. Though plenty of BIFF have surrendered it seems they still remain active in the fight against the government.