Insurgency: Dying Movement

The AFP is beginning the new year on a triumphant tone claiming the insurgency is a dying movement. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191813

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday said lack of support is now pushing the communist insurgency to become a "dying movement."

"We have achieved (a) significant breakthrough in our campaign to end local communist armed conflict. With reduced capability and loss of people's support, the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) could hardly initiate (a) tactical offensive to threaten the peace,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said in a statement.

“Far away from achieving its political objective, the CPP cadres are hanging on its last breath for the economic benefits afforded by the party's resources generated locally and abroad. Ideology is just a memory to (a) dying movement," he added.

He added that attrition in the CPP leadership and other members of its ranks have made it difficult for its leadership to convene the national congress and install a new set of executive committee members.

"Never before had the party experienced this difficulty in consolidating what remains of its members. Benito Tiamzon is nowhere to be found to make critical decisions for the party. His reported death is feared by the 54-year-old party to cause further demoralization and disintegration within the organization," Aguilar said.

Meanwhile, the AFP spokesperson is pleased to note that their campaign against local terrorist groups (LTGs) are gaining ground.

"The framework we are using in the fight against Daesh, Al Qaeda, Daulah Islamiya and ISIS-affiliated local terror groups resulted to the decline of indiscriminate acts of violence, which include IED (improvised explosive device) explosions and attack to against civilian populace; stoppage of the kidnap-for-ransom activities; neutralization of LTG key personalities; surrender of its fighters; and recovery of its mass bases or civilian supporters," Aguilar said.

If the insurgency is dying and is demoralized with the deaths to Benito Tiamzon and Jose Sison then that should mean we won't hear any more about recruitment efforts this year. Backing up Col. Medel Aguilar's statement that the insurgency is a dying movement are the number of NPA units dismantled last year in Eastern Mindanao.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191872

The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has managed to tear apart 18 New People’s Army (NPA) units in its area of responsibility in 2022.

Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, Eastmincom commander, said they are anticipating the imminent collapse of the communist rebel units within their joint operational area, consisting mainly of the NPA's five sub-regional committees (SRC), nine guerilla fronts (GFs), and four vertical units.

In a statement Tuesday, Almerol said that of the 32 GFs confronted by Eastmincom since the Campaign Plan "Kalinaw Sidlakang Mindanao" in 2017, at least 88 percent of the target NPA units have already been destroyed, while the four remaining GFs "are at their weakest."

Almerol said the GF19, SRC Southland, and North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee are among the "most notorious" NPA units in the Caraga Region that the military has dismantled.

These rebel units, he said, forcibly recruited indigenous peoples and minors to join the NPA.

"The GF19 was involved in operating former NPA-linked schools in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur, where the IPs children were brainwashed and recruited in the terrorist movement. Its dismantling is an open door for the future declaration of strategic victory in the Caraga region, where significant NPA formations remain," Almerol added.

Aside from the dismantled NPA units, the Eastmincom also neutralized 533 NPA regulars, with 71 killed, 48 captured, and 416 surrendered last year.

Perhaps even the discovery of a long abandoned cache is also a testament that the insurgency is a dying movement. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1192125

The Philippine Army has discovered an arms cache in the outskirts of Mahapalag, Leyte buried for years by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) hiding from government forces.

Acting on tips from former rebels and mass supporters, soldiers discovered the four high-powered firearms in the upland Maligaya village on Thursday, according to Philippine Army 802nd Infantry Brigade commander Col. Noel Vestuir on Friday.

Vestuir said the arms cache consist of one AK47 assault rifle, an M16 Armalite rifle, an M1 Garand rifle, a 40mm M79 grenade launcher and assorted magazines belonging to the NPA platoon 1, sub-regional command, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.

“I think the firearms have been buried for about two years. The rebels have been hiding from government forces and they left these firearms since they could not carry it anymore,” Vestuir said in a phone interview.

The AFP claims Leyte, Samar, is a hotbed of the NPA which makes it rather odd that this lair had been abandoned for two years. Another cache was revealed by a surrendering rebel in Agusan Norte.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191941

A communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebel who recently surrendered to the military led the government troops to the location of high-powered firearms stashed in the hinterlands of Jabonga town, Agusan del Norte.

Brig. Gen. George Banzon, the Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade commander, said Maximo Fuentes Sr., one of three NPA fighters who surrendered on Jan. 1, pinpointed the site of the buried NPA arms cache in Barangay Cuyago, Jabonga.

Recovered from the site were five M16 rifles, an M4 rifle, a 40mm grenade launcher, and a generator set.

Vibas yielded to the Army’s 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) along with his live-in partner Jennifer Tison Gagbo, and another rebel identified as Nelboy Nanoy Yubos.

The surrenderers are members of the weakened NPA Sentro De Grabidad Guerrilla Front 16, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

During their surrender in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, the rebels also turned over a 5.56 Magpul rifle.

“This accomplishment is another breakthrough in our relentless effort in pursuing the diminishing numbers of NPA following the series of neutralization of seasoned cadres in the province,” Banzon said.

While the NPA may be showing signs of weakness they are still prepared to fight. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1192199

A New People’s Army (NPA) fighter was killed while another was wounded in an armed encounter with troopers of the 65th Infantry Battalion (65IB) at the boundary of barangays Taligaman and Bugsukan here on Friday afternoon.

In a statement on Saturday, the 65IB said they dispatched a team after residents alerted them to the presence of an undetermined number of armed men.

A 20-minute gunfight occurred and the rebels immediately fled, leaving behind a dead fighter and another wounded, who was provided with first aid and later taken to a medical facility in Butuan City. 

The identities of the fatality and the injured are still being determined, the 65IB said, adding that no one was hurt on the side of the government troopers during the skirmish.

Recovered from the encounter site were two AK-47 rifles, one M16 rifle, an M203 grenade, a variety of ammunitions, a detonating cord, five mobile phones, subversive documents, and personal belongings.

In the same statement, 65IB commander, Lt. Col. Michel Mortejo, lauded the residents’ alertness and courage to report the presence of the NPA rebels in their area.

The PNP is convinced that the NPA could cause havoc at Sinulog which is why they want to jam the phone signals during the festivities.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/483114/police-wants-signal-jamming-on-sinulog-feast-day

The police here want to suspend telecommunications services via signal jammers during the Festival Day of the Sinulog on January 15, 2023. 

During a security briefing with the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) on Tuesday, January 3, police officials recommended shutting off mobile phone signals at the South Road Properties (SRP) as part of their security measures for the Sinulog, said Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO). 

However, Dalogdog said they have yet to receive feedback and recommendations from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

“Our regional director (Police Brigadier General Jerry Bearis), according to him, nag request na siya nang, for signal jamming and interruption during the celebration of the Sinulog, especially during sa Mardi Gras or Grand Parade,” Dalogdog told reporters in a press interview on Wednesday, January 4.

But whether or not the proposed signal shutoff will include areas outside SRP, the CCPO official said they will be discussing it further

According to Dalogdog, they all agreed that temporarily switching off telecommunication services this January 15 would help them ensure a peaceful and orderly Sinulog Festival. 

“May mga recommendations yung Task Group sa security, kailangan talaga magkakaroon nang signal jamming,” he said. 

Jamming mobile phone signals had been part of Sinulog’s security protocols since 2017. Metro-wide signal shutdowns were implemented to allay threats but brought inconvenience to spectators. 

No kidding it's an inconvenience. Exactly how strong is the threat that cell phone bombs will be detonated during a fiesta? Pretty high it seems.

https://www.panaynews.net/phone-signal-jamming-still-needed-during-dinagyang/

For the past several years, mobile phone services were suspended during the two-day highlights of the Dinagyang Festival as part of security measures.

For Dinagyang 2023, “We will take the advice or opinion of experts, especially the police,” said Councilor Romel Duron, chairman of the committee on transportation and public utilities of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).

The city council passed a resolution inviting telecommunication companies, the Philippine National Police and Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI) to present their views on the blocking of phone signals during the Dinagyang festivities.

Duron’s committee hearing on this is on Dec. 15, 10 a.m., at the SP conference room.

“If they can convince us nga may threat sa gihapon like in the past, kay ti anyway para man ‘ni sa kaayuhan sang tanan, sometimes we have to give up some of our privileges and diutay naton nga convenience,” Duron said.

However, he acknowledged there could be emergencies where communication is important.

Duron recalled the previous Dinagyang – Councilor Alan Zaldivar had a medical situation but could not use his phone to seek help.

He also said phone signal is needed to do Dinagyang live feeds on social media.

“Ang means of communication daan subong through cell phone. Ang iban ang sa coverage nila gagamit sila cell phone. Millions will be watching so nami gid tani kon damu ang live coverage,” said Duron.

In the 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 editions of Dinagyang, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) approved the police’s request for mobile phone signal jamming.

Explaining the phone signal jamming, NTC said terrorists could detonate improvised explosive devices using cell phone signals.

Just who exactly are they afraid will get off explosive devices using phone signals? This fear shows the NPA and the Islamic Insurgencies have not lost their bite.

The AFP has a new boss. Really he's the old boss since he was AFP Chief back in 2021.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1192213

Newly-appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff, Gen. Andres Centino, said all available resources must be employed to address current and emerging security threats.

"While significant gains have been achieved in our security campaigns, there remain critical tasks to be carried out that need to be fully complied [with]. We must ensure that all our resources are employed to definitively address all the current and emerging threats,” he said during the change-of-command ceremonies held at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Saturday.

Centino replaced Medal of Valor awardee, Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, who was appointed to the AFP's top post on Aug. 8, 2022.

“As I take on the responsibility as chief-of-staff, I reiterate what I have focused on in the past to comply with the urgent tasks at hand," he added.

The change-of-command ceremony was presided over by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

Centino took his oath before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Malacañan Palace on Jan. 6 following his appointment to hold the top military position.

He previously served as the AFP chief-of-staff from Nov. 12, 2021 to Aug. 8, 2022.

"We must ensure that all our resources are employed to definitively address all the current and emerging threats." That is not the language of AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar who has dismissed the CPP-NPA as a dying movement. That is the mindset the AFP must have even if the CPP-NPA and the Islamic Insurgency were stamped out.