Insurgency: Elite Force Deployed

The AFP is beefing up anti-insurgency efforts in Northern Samar by sending in an elite force.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195608

The arrival of Scout Rangers in Samar from Davao would intensify the government’s campaign against the New People’s Army in Northern Samar, the Philippine Army said Monday.

The 4th Scout Ranger Battalion troopers will be placed under the operational control of the Joint Task Force Storm and will “help increase the operational tempo” in Ending Local Communist and Armed Conflict in Samar Island, said Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division.

"Truly it is overwhelming feeling how the higher headquarters manifest their support to the division's campaign by sending the elite forces to augment our troops deployed on this island. With their vast experiences, am confident with these advantages surely, we will be victorious in this battle,” Ligayo said.

Before their arrival on Feb. 18 at the 8th Infantry Division headquarter in Catbalogan City, Samar, the troops underwent training both locally and abroad to enhance their capability in counter-insurgency operations.

The elite force were credited for their significant accomplishments against the NPA operating in Paquibato District in Davao. They also took part in the four-month-long battle against the ISIS-Maute Group in Marawi City in 2017.

“Despite the success in combat operations from their previous assignments, we urged the Scout Rangers not to be complacent and remain vigilant since they will be confronting the NPA in this last bastion of insurgency,” Ligayo added.

Northern Samar has been considered the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-NPA’s last bastion.

Despite the deaths and capture of several fighters, there are still an estimated 400 active combatants in Samar provinces belonging to four remaining NPA guerrilla fronts. 

In addition to these elite troops the AFP has sent in two battalions.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195700

The Philippine Army has welcomed the arrival of two battalions from Mindanao tasked to help suppress the New People’s Army (NPA) in Northern Samar province, considered the last bastion of insurgency in the country.

The Army’s 8th Infantry Division formally welcomed around 1,000 soldiers from the 74th Infantry Battalion (IB) and 42nd IB during a ceremony at the Government Center here late Monday.

Before their deployment in the region, the 74th IB troopers fought the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan province. The unit also took part in the campaigns of the Western Mindanao Command under the Operational Control of Joint Task Force Zamboanga.

The 42nd IB was also cited for its performance in the conduct of offensive operations against armed rebels operating in Quezon and Bicol areas. The unit has been assigned in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Lanao Del Sur and Sulu.

They contributed to the liberation of Marawi City, where they took part in the six-month battle against the ISIS-Maute Group.

The battalion was also instrumental in neutralizing key NPA leaders and personalities and dismantling the regional leadership of NPA’s Western Mindanao regional party committee.

Army 8th Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Camilo Ligayo said the two additional battalions will boost the anti-insurgency campaign in the region, especially since four of the last five remaining guerilla fronts in the country are in Samar Island.

“We are in the winning momentum in dismantling the four active guerilla fronts in our areas of operations. Thus, an additional force would be great as we continue to strike hard on the communist terrorist groups and will shorten the time in attaining strategic victory and to finally put an end to this insurgency,” Ligayo said during the ceremony.

The official is upbeat about ending insurgency in three to six months with additional troops and new recruits.

“The higher headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is very supportive, from additional forces to war-fighting equipment, they really ensure that we are fully equip in this fight. And, in no time we can totally eradicate NPA in the region,” Ligayo added.

With these additional troops the AFP now thinks the insurgency will be ended in 3 to 6 months. But is that the only in Northern Samar or nationwide? We shall see after 3 to 6 months where things stand.

Ex-rebels from Samar are of course receiving money for having surrendered. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195882

A total of 22 former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Samar province have received financial assistance from the national government under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) as they prepare to start a new life after years of armed struggle.

Each was granted immediate assistance worth P15,000. Also, 12 of them got P50,000 livelihood assistance each, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional office here on Thursday.

The DILG said those who surrendered their firearms got higher benefits as remuneration from the central government. The amount varies according to the kind of firearms surrendered.

During the awarding on Wednesday, DILG Eastern Visayas regional director Arnel Agabe welcomed the surrender of the rebel returnees and offered various assistance from the different national government agencies.

"It’s not easy to attain peace and we have to work for it daily. We urge you to work with the government to attain peace and justice in our communities,” Agabe said during the awarding of benefits at the Philippine Army’s 78th Infantry Battalion in Lalawigan village in Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

"It’s not easy to attain peace and we have to work for it daily." Yeah, and apparently peace has to be paid for as well and that comes at the behest of all the taxpayers. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195987

Fifty-two former members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and 200 of their barangay-based supporters in Agusan del Sur province have pledged allegiance to the government Thursday and received benefits from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

In an interview Friday, Maj. Jennifer Ometer, the Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) information chief, said the batch came from various towns of the province.

“These former rebels and supporters surrendered to field units of the PRO-13 on different occasions last year and in the early part of 2023 in Agusan del Sur,” Ometer said.

Leading the distribution of the E-CLIP benefits held in Patin-ay, Prosperidad town, Agusan del Sur, were Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Secretary Gilberto DC Cruz; Lt. Gen. Filmore Escobal, the Area Police Command in Eastern Mindanao commander; and Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, the Philippine National Police - Special Action Force director.

They were joined by PRO-13 director, Brig. Gen. Pablo Labra II; and Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane Jr.

The beneficiaries received educational assistance and scholarship for their children, sets of livelihood training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and livelihood support from the provincial government’s Upland Sustainable Agroforestry Development (USAD) program, among others

Meanwhile in South Cotabato a high ranking NPA leader has been killed.  Will this end the insurgency?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195723

A communist rebel leader linked to various crimes was killed during a militaroperation over the weekend in an upland town in South Cotabato province, military officials said Tuesday.

Brigadier Gen. Pedro Balisi Jr., commander of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Brigade (1MBde), identified the slain rebel leader as Martin Min Fay, also known as Diego or Kidlat, who was with his group during the clash in Barangay Laconon, T’boli town, on Saturday.

Balisi said Fay, the subject of a search warrant, resisted and fired at government forces from the 1MBde and the Army's 5th Special Forces Battalion who were approaching his safehouse during the 5 a.m. operation.

“There was no casualty from the government side,” Balisi said in a statement. 

At the time of his death, Fay was the vice commanding officer of the front organizational command of the New People’s Army (NPA) Guerilla Front Musa under the Far South Mindanao Region.

There is no pronoucement that this is a big blow to the insurgency so maybe it's nothing?

Let's not forget the Muslim Insurgency.  This week at least 29 BIFF members surrendered. 

 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195793

Twenty-nine members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have voluntarily surrendered with their firearms to authorities here, an Army official said Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Leodevic Guinid, the Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team commander, said the surrenderers turned over assorted high-powered rifles, homemade explosive devices, mortar rounds and ammunition on Tuesday afternoon at the brigade headquarters in Barangay Pigcalagan here.

“I commend the decision of the surrenderers to lay down their arms and denounce the terrorist organization,” Guinid said in a statement.

The surrenderers belong to the BIFF-Kagui Karialan faction operating in the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and North Cotabato.

During the surrender rite attended by police, military, and local officials, Guinid urged the former militants to “tell your companions still out there to come forward, surrender and the government will help all of you become productive citizens.”

Datu Anwar Emblawa, Shariff Aguak's municipal executive secretary, handed over financial assistance to the former extremists who were from their town in Maguindanao del Sur.

Some 50 BIFF have surrendered to military forces in the area of operation of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division that included the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and parts of Sarangani, North Cotabato, and Lanao del Sur.

Abu Sayyaf remains active and is still causing trouble. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195708

An Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandit was killed while two soldiers were wounded in two separate clashes in the hinterlands of Sulu province, a top military official said Tuesday.

Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, 11th Infantry Division commander, said the first clash broke out around 7 a.m. Monday in Barangay Kabbon Takas, Patikul town, Sulu.

Patrimonio said the fire fight ensued when the troops of the Army's 111th Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC) and 32nd Infantry Battalion (IB) chanced upon the group of ASG leader Mudzrimar Sawadjaan while on a combat operation.

“Due to the superior firepower of the 111DRC troopers and 32IB, the enemies quickly withdrew,” Patrimonio said in a statement.

Another firefight ensued as the reinforcing 32IB troops chanced upon the fleeing ASG bandits, he added.

Patrimonio said the bandits are believed to suffered casualties.

While scouring the encounter site, the troops recovered the remains of an ASG bandit, an M-14 rifle, ammunition, an analog cellphone, and three backpacks loaded with assorted stuff and personal belongings.

Patrimonio said the slain ASG bandit was later identified as Rhudymar Habib Jihiran, one of the followers of Sawadjaan.

They only found one body but believe there were more casualties? Then where are the bodies? And just think if these terrorists surrendered they would be given free money, job training, and housing.