Insurgency: Airdrops Leaflets

As the NPA shrinks and guerrilla fronts fall the government continues to urge the remaining Reds to surrender. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1222213

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) called on the remnants of the New People's Army (NPA) to abandon the armed struggle and contribute to unity, peace and development, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has said.

The anti-insurgency body, in a statement Sunday, said Galvez made the appeal during a recent briefing at the Presidential Communications Office.

"Conflicts can be resolved peacefully. Our commitment is to show all parties that dialogue is a more effective approach than armed struggle," Galvez said.

The OPAPRU chief also shared his agency's initiatives in rallying support from various sectors, including religious communities and international allies.

He stressed the importance of public diplomacy in demonstrating that armed struggle is outdated and counterproductive.

“The essence of our peace efforts lies in the heart of our communities. By engaging various sectors—religious groups, local leaders, and international allies—we are knitting a fabric of unity strong enough to withstand the challenges of conflict," Galvez said.

One way to reach those in the hinterlands is by dropping thousands of leaflets. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1928499/military-chopper-airdrops-leaflets-to-ask-npa-members-to-surrender

The Philippine Army dropped leaflets from a military chopper in Aurora and Nueva Vizcaya to convince the remaining New People’s Army (NPA) fighters in these areas to surrender.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said airborne leaflet operations were conducted last March 28, in Barangay Galintuja in Maria Aurora town, Aurora; and Barangay Lub-lub in Alfonso Castañeda town in Nueva Vizcaya.

Padilla said the Army utilized the Black Hawk chopper of Philippine Air Force to conduct the operations which was done due to the area’s difficult terrain.

“These areas are really difficult to reach and it’s also very difficult for us to get our message across,” Padilla told reporters in a phone interview.

Padilla said around 1,000 leaflets containing the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program were dropped in said areas.

“We are enticing these individuals to go back to the folds of the law; we are very open for them to join the society and once again be with their families,” she said.

Padilla noted that the airborne leaflet operations are part of the AFP’s operational mix on information campaign.

How many of those leaflets will actually reach any NPA fighters is unclear. Especially seeing as the AFP claims the NPA is down to just over 1,500 and they certainly are not clustered in two barangays. 

More NPA leaders have fallen. One due to the support of local people.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1222459

The Philippine Army has welcomed the recent arrest in Consolacion, Cebu of the second-highest leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Visayas, who orchestrated several terrorist activities in Samar Island.

Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo lauded the arrest of Romulo Micabalo, alias Ned, the second top leader of the NPA Eastern Visayas regional party committee on April 8, and credited the accomplishment to the Army’s counterparts in ending the local communist armed conflict.

"The support of our partner stakeholders is the key to this achievement, as we continue to crack down on communist terrorists in their smallest formations. We will be relentless in our operations. We assure you that our people will be protected and freed from violence and atrocities by the NPA,” he said.

Ligayo said Micabilo was behind several atrocities in Samar provinces.

Among these were the burning of Jipapad-Las Navas road construction equipment in upland villages of Las Navas town in July 2021, the ambuscade and massacre of a soldier and three militiamen, and the wounding of six militiamen who were building an army detachment in Jipapad, Eastern Samar, also in July 2021.

He was also tagged in the attack on soldiers tasked to secure the construction of school buildings in Dorillo and villages in Jipapad town in October 2022. A 10-year-old child was hurt in the incident.

Micabalo has a standing warrant of arrest for two counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention and robbery with violence against or intimidation of a person in Agusan del Sur.

His father, Dionisio Micabalo, alias Muling, the top leader of the NPA-North Central Mindanao regional party committee, was killed in an encounter with government troops in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental on July 26, 2023.

Another ranking NPA officer was killed in a clash with the AFP.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/11/ranking-cpp-npa-officer-killed-3-others-fall-after-bukidnon-clash

A high-ranking officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) died while three others are now under military custody after a fierce gun battle in Quezon town of Bukidnon on Wednesday , April 10.

Brig. Gen. Marion Angcao, commander of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, said the clash erupted when his men chanced upon a small group of communist rebels in Purok 8 in Barangay Butong.

Alias Rica/Tomboy died as a result of the clash with Angcao saying that the fatality was a ranking officer of what was left of the Guerrilla Front 7 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).

He said two other communist rebels were captured while the third surrendered a few hours later.

Seized after the clash were an M16 rifle with an attached M203 Grenade Launcher, anAK47 Rifle, an M1 Carbine Rifle, a Caliber 45 pistol, three backpacks, an anti-personnel mine, a hand grenade and two 40mm high explosives.

Citing background check, Angcao said alias Rica/Tomboy has several warrants of arrest for the crimes of murder, multiple attempted homicides, and violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunitions. 

But it is not only the NPA who are falling. 3 members of DI surrendered recently. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/8/3-daulah-islamiyah-members-yield-in-north-cotabato

Three members of the Daulah Islamiyah-Hassan Group surrendered in Carmen, North Cotabato on April 5.

Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. William Gonzales said they turned themselves in to joint elements of the 90th Infantry Battalion, Carmen Municipal Police Station, and intelligence units.

Gonzales attributed their surrender to the collaborative efforts of the police and military in Central Mindanao and the unwavering support of local government units and communities.

The surrenderers who turned over guns and bullets were presented to the local government of Carmen headed by Mayor Rogelio Taliño, 602nd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Donald Gumiran, and 90th Infantry Battalion commanding officer Lt. Col. Rowel Gavilanes.

The surrenderers are  undergoing custodial debriefing at the 602nd Infantry Brigade headquarters. 

They received a sack of rice as assistance from the local government of Carmen.

Not only will they receive a sack of rice but they will also get lots of freebies from the E-CLIP money program.

5 Abu Sayyaf fighters also surrendered. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/8/5-abu-sayyaf-group-fighters-surrender-in-basilan

Five members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) surrendered to the 64th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Tumahubong, Sumisip, Basilan on April 4.

Lt. Col. Abel Potutan, 64th Infantry Battalion commander, said the surrenderers turned over one M16 rifle, one M14 rifle, one M79 grenade launcher, and two Garand rifles to Brig. Gen. Alvin V. Luzon, commander of the 101st Infantry Brigade.

Luzon welcomed the surrenderers and commended the 64th Infantry Battalion for facilitating their surrender that he said paves the way for peace and development in his area of operations.

He also attributed their successful surrender to the collaborative efforts and untiring support of local government units and people of Basilan.

“It is a testament that as we work together, we can achieve peace and prosperity that can make Basilan an ASG-free province. We will help these five former ASG members rejoin the mainstream society and live a normal, peaceful, and harmonious life with their families,” he added.

Again, the AFP attributes this to collaboration with the local population. That means someone is snitching. How do snitches fare in the Philippines?