Insurgency: No Let-Up In AFP Operations

The AFP is enjoying high trust ratings from the public. But they will continue to pursue the NPA rather than sit on their laurels. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/11/brawner-no-let-up-in-afp-operations-amid-high-trust-performance-ratings

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will not rest on its laurels after getting high trust and performance ratings in a recent survey conducted by polling firm Octa Research. 

AFP Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. welcomed the results of the “Tugon ng Masa” fourth quarter survey by Octa Research which showed that the AFP was one of the most trusted and top-performing government agencies in 2023.

“The result of the OCTA Research Fourth Quarter 2023 Tugon ng Masa Survey is an affirmation of the hard work and dedicated service of every soldier, airman, sailor, and marine in the performance of our mandate to the Filipino people,” Brawner said on Monday, March 11.

The military chief urged the officers, enlisted personnel and civilian human resource of the AFP to “continue working hard for the country,” and remain united and professional at all times.

“We will continue to fight to protect our people and our sovereignty,” he promised.

Last week, Octa research revealed the results of its latest survey conducted from December 10 to 14, 2023 which showed that 86 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with the military’s performance and 87 percent trusted them.

Is there any reason to think the AFP would sit back and relax simply because they have earned a high trust rating from the public?

In the first two months of the year 348 NPA and their allies have been neutralized. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1220568

Government troops have neutralized a total of 348 New People's Army (NPA) members and their allies in operations from Jan. 1 to March 7, the military announced Tuesday.

In a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said this includes 301 who surrendered, 14 who were apprehended and 33 who were killed.

She said a total of 41 camps, 175 firearms and 44 anti-personnel mines (APMs) were seized from the communist rebels during this period.

"In the same period, a total of 44 local terrorist group members were neutralized," Padilla said.

This can be broken down into 27 surrendered, one arrested, and 16 killed, she added.

Troops also seized a total of 44 firearms, four APMs and five encampments of local terrorist groups, Padilla said.

How many of those neutralized were actual NPA fighters? It seems like only 44 but he breakdown is not made explicit. 

9 NPA fighters surrendered claiming they have been demoralized by the AFP's constant attacks. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1220492

Nine communist New People's Army rebels separately surrendered in the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Sur, the military here said Monday.

Brig. Gen. Arsenio Sadural, Philippine Army's 901st Infantry Brigade (901Bde) commander, said on Sunday, five rebels yielded to the 29th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Agusan del Norte, while the other four to the 36IB in Surigao del Sur.

In Agusan del Norte, the surrenderers were identified as Maria Sila Galupo, Hanah Sarah Galupo, Narlyn Consuegra, Manuel Nakira Jr., and Urily Nakila, who all belonged to the NPA Regional Headquarters of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).

The group handed over two M16 rifles, an AK-47 rifle, and an M79 grenade launcher with ammunition.

In Surigao del Sur, the four other surrenderers belonging to the weakened NPA Guerrilla Front 30 under the NEMRC are Bernabe Pamad, Ronel Estano, Mary Koy Cuarteron, and Lito Montenegro. The group turned in an AK-47 rifle and a .45-caliber pistol.

"The nine (rebels) escaped from their groups because they feared being hit by the continuous combat operations of the 29IB and the 36IB," Sadural said in a statement.

Sadural said the surrender of the nine rebels indicated that the NEMRC is "on the brink of collapse. We are now at the stage wherein insurgency is at its lowest point and nearing extinction. It's the right time to unite and embrace peace."

He said the surrenderers are set to avail of government services under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program. 

The North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee is on the brink of collapse. In fact it was destroyed in 2020!

https://mindanaotimes.com.ph/notorious-npa-group-of-reg-10-wiped-out-army/

The North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) of the New Peoples Army was believed to have been wiped during the five-day clashes against the troops of the 401st Infantry Brigade in Andap Valley Complex in Surigao del Sur on May 14-19.

Lt. Col. Xerxes Trinidad, the 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office chief, said that 20 of the NPAs top leaders were killed during the series of encounters. He said the military operations were launched on the complaint of the indigenous communities regarding harassment and forced recruitments.

He said the NPA is also taking advantage of the confusion caused by the pandemic by ramping up their propaganda against the government. The documents that soldiers recovered from encounter sites and the overrun camps would support their theory about an existing plot by the Communist Party of the Philippines.

They also recovered two laptops, supposedly owned by Myrna Sularte or Mariang Malaya, the secretary of NEMRC, and Alvin Luque alias Joaquin Jacinto, the spokesperson of National Democratic Fronts Komisyon Mindanao. The laptops also yielded material evidence on the activities of the NPA.

Again, we see the danger of premature announcements of victory. Like in Suirgao del Norte.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/16/surigao-del-norte-declared-insurgency-free

Surigao del Norte has been declared insurgency-free after the massive and successive surrender of high-ranking New People’s Army leaders in the province at the provincial gymnasium here on Friday, March 15.

Gov. Lyndon Barbers said that the province has become conflict-manageable and ready for development. “Our province is now free, and thus paving the way for more growth and economic development,” declared the provincial chief executive.

"The province has become conflict-manageable?" Does that mean the area is not actually free of insurgents but only has a "manageable"number of rebels left? Yes. 

“Every week most of the NPA members are surrendering. They’re weakened at and awakened by the of the lies perpetuated by the NPA,’’ Abalos said..

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/17/surigao-del-norte-declared-as-communist-insurgency-free

Surigao del Norte is not 100% insurgency free. Rather, the insurgency has been weakened.

An official announcement of amnesty is just around the corner. When it finally comes former NPA fighters who wish to do so can join the Army.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1918657/former-rebels-seeking-amnesty-most-welcome-to-join-ph-army

Former rebels who are seeking amnesty are “most welcome” to join the Philippine Army, its spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala told INQUIRER.net on Thursday. 

Dema-ala made the reaction as Commissioner Jamar Kulayan of the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) revealed to INQUIRER.net that around 80,000 rebels are eligible to avail of the government reprieve.

“If joining the ranks of the Philippine Army will help them transition, reconstruct their lives and secure a brighter future they are most welcome as long as they have satisfied the basic requirements of the Philippine Army and passed the vetting process,” Dema-ala said in a text message. 

“The Philippine Army extends its welcome to former rebels choosing to return to the folds of the law,” Dema-ala said.

The offer applies to all former rebels including members of the New People’s Army (NPA), Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). What will happen to Army morale knowing that you are fighting alongside men who fought against you? 

The AFP continues the fight against the BIFF and DI. After killing 2 BIFF fighters the AFP is bracing for retaliation. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1220490

Military forces in Maguindanao del Sur have been placed on heightened alert after two extremists were killed in a clash with government forces in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town over the weekend.

As of Monday, military detachments in the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Mamasapano, and Shariff Saydona in Maguindanao Sur, areas where the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIFF) operates, remain on alert for possible retaliatory attacks.

Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, said the Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team conducted the decisive military operations at about 5 a.m. Saturday that left two members of the BIFF dead.

Brig. Gen. Jose Vladimir Caraga, 1BCT commander, said the remains of two slain BIFFs were retrieved in the village of Kitango in Datu Saudi Ampatuan.

“We found an M16 rifle, a .50-caliber homemade Barrett rifle, ammunition, and two improvised explosive devices,” Caraga said in his report to Rillera.

Caraga said about 20 BIFFs were sighted by civilians in the village and alerted military checkpoints nearby, which triggered the clash.

He said soldiers are now pursuing the BIFF group belonging to the Kagui Karialan faction.

On March 3, a BIFF fighter was killed while his father, a sub-leader, was arrested in Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur.

If they are expecting retaliatory attacks that means the AFP is acknowledging that the BIFF is not weak. Despite being small they remain dangerous. The DI also remains dangerous even while on the run. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1917990/daulah-islamiyah-on-the-run-says-ph-army

The extremist Daulah Islamiyah-Maute group is on the run, said Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido on Wednesday.

(The Daulah Islamiyah is now just a small group that is isolated in a place that is hard to reach. In short, they are on the run. The Army is very aggressive; that is why we lost some personnel in the last few months because we were so aggressive in going after them.)

Galido said that they do not want to leave space for the militants to commit further crimes.

Furthermore, the Army chief said that the number of guerilla fronts has been reduced but did not specify how many are left. He said that the fronts were reduced because the government was successful in ensuring that its services reach vulnerable areas.

However, Galido admitted that there were a few guerilla fronts left in Samar and Bicol.

The DI may be on the run but that is sure to make them only that more willing to commit atrocities like the bombing at MSU.  Hopefully that will not happen and any intel the AFP obtains will be acted on promptly.