Insurgency: Anti-Communist War Come to an End

Philippine  Army Chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. is confident that ongoing intel operations will lead to the dismantling of all communist guerrilla fronts nationwide. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197914

Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Wednesday expressed confidence that ongoing intelligence driven operations will lead to the complete dismantling of all remaining communist guerrilla fronts in the country.

This as the PA works tirelessly to achieve its organizational gains and operational milestones, he added.

"Most significant of these are in the intelligence driven military operations against communist and local terrorist groups where we see the imminent complete dismantling of the remaining guerrilla fronts," Brawner said in his speech during the PA's 126th founding anniversary at its headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila.

The military earlier said that out of the 89 New People's Army guerrilla fronts recorded in 2016, only 23 or 24 are left with only five still capable of conducting any actions.

He added that these "successes" are shared with their stakeholders whose solid cooperation has magnified the impact of PA's whole-of-nation approach against these security threats.

"This in turn has encouraged the voluntary surrender of former rebels and their eventual reintegration into mainstream society," Brawner said.

Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. claims only five fronts reman which are capable of conducting any actions. One of those 5 must be in Masbate because the action has been ramped up in recent days. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198107

The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday condemned the latest string of atrocities committed by New People's Army (NPA) insurgents in Masbate, which killed and injured government troops and civilians early this week.

"The DND vehemently condemns the recent series of violent acts perpetrated by the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) that inflicted injuries on our uniformed personnel and innocent civilians, especially children, in the towns of Placer and Kawayan in Masbate," Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.

These atrocities include the use and detonation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near schools and in public areas, he added.

By using these weapons indiscriminately, Andolong said, the Reds have placed the public in harm's way.

"Their utter lack of conscience truly shows that they are desperate in their vain efforts to project a false facade of relevance and strength," he said.

Andolong also enjoined all Filipinos to come together as a nation and people to collectively protect all communities, as well as reject and denounce the "wilting CTG and their dwindling supporters."

He added that the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are committed to their campaign to rid the country of the scourge of these lawless elements.

Two soldiers and a minor were hurt after communist rebels detonated an IED near a public elementary school in Barangay Locso-on in Placer on March 22, triggering a clash.

A soldier was also killed in a clash with 12 NPA fighters in Barangay Villahermosa, Kawayan, Masbate on March 20.

One soldier dead and two others wounded. That sounds very active. There is also an active front in Maguindano. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198008

A soldier was killed while his companion and a civilian were wounded following a drive-by shooting by gunmen on board a minivan in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao del Sur province on Wednesday morning.

Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog, the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade commander, said the victims were manning a checkpoint in Barangay Libutan when attacked around 9 a.m.

He identified the slain soldier as Private First Class (PFC) Jorey Abibas of Libungan town, North Cotabato province; and the wounded as PFC Jonathan Nacion of Pigcawayan town, also in North Cotabato.

A civilian identified by police as Asidza Bayao was hit by stray bullets.

The two soldiers both belong to the Army’s 23rd Mechanized Company of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion.

“It was a terroristic attack. The suspects on board a heavily tinted minivan slowed down while passing by the checkpoint but suddenly pulled their rifles and fired at our troops,” Pangcog said in a radio interview.

Pangcog said the attackers are believed to be members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), in retaliation to the recent death of BIFF’s Abdulkarem Lumbatan Hasim alias “Commander Jacket.”

Hasim was killed with his companion, Mahmod Lumbatan, during a law enforcement operation on Feb. 18 at a bus terminal in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat province.

Colonel Roel Sermese, Maguindanao police director, agreed that the BIFF was likely behind the attack.

Citing a police investigation report, Sermese said the attackers were led by Tong Aban Amang, a BIFF-sub leader under Commander Jacket.

Well thats the BIFF and not an NPA front but the danger remains the same. The Isalmic insurgency is not dead yet. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198088

A military operation that entered its second day on Thursday resulted in the deaths of at least two suspected Dawlah Islamiya (DI) extremists, while four others were injured in an ongoing air and ground assault on the border of Maguindanao Sur and North Cotabato provinces.

Brigadier Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of the Army's 602nd Infantry Brigade (602Bde), said the government forces were pursuing Almoben Sibud, a DI group subleader, along with about 30 armed followers responsible for bombings in the area.

“Our specially trained ground troops are in the area, hopefully circling our targets,” Gumiran said, adding that the operation was coordinated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The 602Bde artillery unit utilized its recently acquired 155-mm Autonomous Truck Mounted howitzer System (ATMOS) for the first time during the operation.

A DI member was arrested and is currently undergoing interrogation. He was identified as Mohammad Agbas of Barangay Dungguan, Datu Montawal town, and was found with a .45-caliber pistol and ammunition.

About 700 people from the village of Dungguan and surrounding areas have fled to safer grounds following the launch of the military operation.

In Samar and the Negros active NPA guerrilla fronts remain which is why the AFP is adding more troops.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198112

The country's military chief said the transfer of additional troops to the Visayas who would be tasked to neutralize the remaining communist insurgents will be completed soon.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino made this comment following his visit to the Visayas Command headquartered in Camp Lapu-Lapu, City Cebu on Thursday.

“We’re here to perform the crucial task of seeing that the morale of our troops is at its highest, to talk and know that all is well and that you’ve been given specific tasks about our campaign,” Centino said.

He also added the AFP is nearing completion of the transfer of additional forces in the Visayas and thanked the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force for helping in the troop movements.

The shift in forces was necessary to further intensify the military campaign against the communist terrorist group, especially in Samar and Negros provinces.

But how long until the remaining communist insurgents in the Visayas will actually be neutralized? Soon and very soon according to President Marcos who says the communist insurgency has reached the end stage. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/3/22/marcos-to-soldiers-be-peacemakers-as-anti-communist-war-comes-to-an-end

Marcos encouraged the soldiers to serve as "peacemakers" and lead a "whole-of-nation" approach in the more challenging mission of addressing the root causes of insurgency.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said he is now seeing the end of the government's half-a-century war with communist rebels and that the country's soldiers must now take on a new role to ensure that no one can sow fear in the country.

Marcos said this as he participated in the 126th anniversary of the Philippine Army in Taguig City on Wednesday, March 22.

In his speech, the President said that after the soldiers' sacrifices to ensure the country's internal security, the government's 50-year war with the rebels would soon end.

"We have come to a point in our country's history when a half-a-century's fight with insurgents is coming to an end," he said.

"This would not only bring peace to our nation but would also help development and improve the lives of every Filipino," he added.

With the "declining numbers" of the communist terrorist group, President Marcos said the government must now recalibrate its military approach.

"As our ground troops, you have done the difficult part of clearing our communities of internal security threats. You must now continue being the catalyst for their surrender and disarmament," he said.

Marcos encouraged the soldiers to serve as "peacemakers" and lead a "whole-of-nation" approach in the more challenging mission of addressing the root causes of insurgency.

"Work with the national government agencies, the civil society groups, the private sector, and the communities themselves in keeping the peace. It is a critical task as it is only through achieving internal security that we will be able to foster development and address equally important security concerns," he said.

"It now behooves upon you to ensure that these areas will not fall onto the hands of those who intend to sow fear, discontent, and terror," he added.

Marcos had previously said the AFP must become peacemakers but now he says the communist insurgency is coming to an end. He also says their numbers are declining even while the AFP says they are trying to stop recruitment efforts. It could be that the insurgency has reached its end game but every President has said that so the proper response is to wait and see.