Insurgency: No Security Threats Detected For Yuletide

It's Christmas time once more in the Philippines and that means several things regarding the insurgency. First of all is the CPP's 54th anniversary. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1190630

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has placed the Special Action Force (SAF) and all 17 Regional Mobile Force Battalions (RMFB) on high alert to prevent attacks by communist rebels ahead of the 54th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Azurin made this announcement during the year-end PNP command conference attended by ranking SAF and RMFB as well as heads and other officials of various police units nationwide at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday afternoon.

"(All) SAF and 17 RMFBs nationwide will be put to highest alert for any possible tactical engagements and harassments against government forces as the CPP marks its 54th anniversary on Dec. 26, 2022," he added.

Other highlights of the briefing included the presentation of updates on the security situation and threat assessment and forecast for the Yuletide Season, national crime situation and updates on rape cases, operational accomplishments, Revitalized Kasimbayanan Project, updates on crime situation, anti-crime efforts and deployment during Christmas holidays.

“The successful outcome of the major events that unfolded during the year is the result of sheer hard work, careful planning and preparation by PNP units," Azurin added.

He also said the challenge for the PNP now is to sustain its gains and prevent criminals from taking advantage of the holiday season when increased economic activities are expected.

While the PNP remains on high alert for any possible attacks by the NPA to mark the CPP's 54th  anniversary the AFP says they have detected no serious threats this Christmas season. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1190728

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) does not see any security threats for the Yuletide Season as insurgent rebels have been greatly weakened.

"We have not seen any threat yet so far and I think even the capability of the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines), a local terrorist group, (has) weakened that they are incapable of mounting large scale or shall we say a terrorist act that will disturb the peace," AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said when asked during an interview with CNN Philippines on Wednesday.

Aguilar said the AFP will just provide support to the Philippine National Police (PNP) as it is the lead agency when it comes to security operations and preparations for the Yuletide Season.

"Now, in the conduct of security operations, what we will do is to provide our support to PNP because they are the lead effort when it comes to security operation and preparation during Yuletide Season," he said.

The second thing regarding the insurgency during this time of the year is the annual Christmas truce. This year there will be no truce because the AFP says there is no leadership with which to negotiate such a truce. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1704764/afp-no-talks-of-christmas-ceasefire-with-npa

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is not discussing the possibility of a Christmas ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar revealed this Tuesday in a text message to INQUIRER.net. He also pointed out that even if there is a cessation of hostilities between the AFP and NPA amid the Christmas season, there is no guarantee that the Maoist rebels could impose the truce due to what he called a “leadership crisis” within the CPP.

“It is not being discussed yet,” he said, “and the CPP is suffering from [a] leadership crisis after the neutralization of many of its national leaders.”

“In short, there is no one to negotiate with, and the Party has no capability to impose [a] ceasefire.”

Aguilar, however, said the government could impose a suspension of military operations or Somo against the NPA “especially in areas where they are already weak.”

“We pray for the enlightenment of the CPP cadres that reforms have already taken place in our government and our society. It is time for them to abandon armed struggle and disband the NPA,” he also said.

Isn't Joma Sison still head of the CPP? Can they not negotiate with him? No because now he is dead!

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/17/2231445/cpp-founder-joma-sison-dies-83

The Communist Party of the Philippines announced that its founding chairperson Jose Maria Sison died Friday night after a two-week confinement in the hospital. He was 83.

Sison, a former youth leader and university professor who founded the CPP and the New People's Army, had been in exile in the Netherlands since the late 1980s. He had also often been rumored to have died. The party on Saturday morning said that this time, it was true.

“The Filipino proletariat and toiling people grieve the death of their teacher and guiding light,” the CPP said Saturday in a statement as it gave its “highest possible tribute” to Sison whom it called a “great Marxist-Leninist-Maoist thinker, patriot, internationalist and revolutionary leader.”

"Even as we mourn, we vow to continue to give all our strength and determination to carry the revolution forward guided by the memory and teachings of the people's beloved Ka Joma," the CPP said further.

It remains to be seen how the consequences of his death will play out in the remaining leadership of the CPP and for the future of the insurgency. 

While there will be no ceasefire the AFP says they might suspend operations where the NPA is already weak. But isn't the NPA weak everywhere? That is the message the AFP has been conveying for the past several months. It's all due to infrastructure being built in remote areas.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1190663

A key official of the Philippine Army in Negros Island on Tuesday said the threat posed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) is diminishing as peace and development efforts continue to bring in progress in affected areas.

Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, told the Philippine News Agency that there is a significant improvement in peace and development over the years since he was first assigned in 2017 in the island of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental provinces.

“I was still the deputy brigade commander in 2017 and what I have seen then is a far cry from the current situation now, considering that we only had two Army battalions on the island,” Pasaporte said in mixed English and Filipino.

“The 62nd Infantry Battalion was deployed in the north and the 79th Infantry Battalion in the south of Negros because the other units were pulled out to help address the terrorism problem in Mindanao, specifically in Marawi,” he noted.

Pasaporte said the threat slowly diminished upon the return of the other units from Mindanao a couple of years later. Massive deployment of troops followed in organized areas where the NPA had concentrated its primary strength and support.

The brigade commander also noted the huge contribution provided by the local government units (LGUs), agencies, and other stakeholders to improve the peace and security on the island.

Despite saying the NPA has been weakened nationwide 400 Rangers are joining the fight in the Eastern Visayas.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1190685

The Philippine Army (PA) on Tuesday announced that 400 soldiers from the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion arrived at the Calbayog City Port in Samar on Dec. 11 to help in the ongoing anti-insurgency campaign in Eastern Visayas region.

The 4th Scout Ranger Battalion, headed by Lt. Col. Ricarte Dayata, will also augment units of the 8th Infantry Division commanded by Maj. Gen. Camilo Z. Ligayo.

”Remain alert and vigilant as you join our fight against the communist terrorists here in Eastern Visayas. I trust that everyone remains mission-oriented and always respects human rights, adhere to the international humanitarian law and the rule of law as you proceed to your area of operations,” Ligayo said.

The 4th Scout Ranger Battalion -- which earlier helped in the anti-insurgency campaign in the Caraga region in northeastern Mindanao -- will be deployed to Northern Samar where four rebel fronts are still active, said Army spokesperson, Col. Xerxes Trinidad, in a statement.

Will they be successful in quickly dismantling the reaming four fronts? In Mindanao 6 more NPA units have been dismantled this month. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1190634

The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) reported Tuesday that another six Communist New People's Army (NPA) units were dismantled this month.

In a statement, Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, Eastmincom commander, said the dismantled units were the NPA's Regional Sentro de Grabidad, Regional Operational Command, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (RSDG, ROC, SMRC), Sub-Regional Committees (SRC) 1, 2, 4, and 5, under SMRC and SRC 4 of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

"Most of them formerly operate in Davao Region and Bukidnon," Almerol said.

As a result of the "neutralization of the NPA leadership," Almerol said the Eastern Mindanao Area-Clearing and Validation Committee composed of the Eastmincom and Area Police Command - Eastern Mindanao recommended the NPA units' dissolution to the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council.

In addition to the capture and deaths of top NPA leaders, Almerol noted that no reports have been received of the NPA's activities or presence in their former mass bases in Eastern Mindanao.

He said Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. signed the dissolution status for the dismantled NPA units in a joint resolution on Dec. 6.

"Since the declaration of the Davao Region as 'insurgency-free,' Eastmincom has not monitored any extortion activities, harassment, and other atrocities by the NPA, including their presence in the said area," he said.

Again, no reports of NPA activity is being conflate with absence of the NPA entirely. But with the death of Joma Sison it could be the insurgency is now officially dead.