It's February and that means Valentine's Day. Of course the AFP is using the occasion to tug at the heart strings of the remaining NPA rebels to surrender.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1243839 |
The Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade is upbeat that more active fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA) will surrender this month through their “Love Will Lead You Back” campaign.
The program, according to 802nd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, will encourage NPA members from platoons in Leyte and Samar provinces to reunite with their families and loved ones in this month of love.
“This initiative, set against the backdrop of Valentine’s Day, aims to remind insurgents that love, and peace are waiting for them at home. Through this campaign featuring former rebels, their families, community leaders, and anyone they love, the brigade hopes to touch the hearts of those still hiding in the mountains, encouraging them to lay down their arms and embrace a future filled with hope and reconciliation,” Vestuir said in a phone interview Tuesday.
The campaign targets the surrender of 16 NPA combatants hiding in the boundaries of Samar and Eastern Samar provinces and 21 armed rebels running in Leyte mountains.
The creative approach combines technology and emotion, leveraging the universal theme of love to reach out to insurgents in a way that traditional methods cannot, Vestuir said.
He said the messages that will be shared across various social media platforms and community gatherings will serve as a bridge between estranged families and their loved ones in hiding.
Videos showing the families of the insurgents urging them to surrender will be shown at community gatherings.
“By highlighting real stories of former rebels who have successfully reintegrated into society, the ‘Love Will Lead You Back’ program seeks to dispel fears of surrender and showcase the government's commitment to peace and rehabilitation. This month of love, we send a powerful message: abandon the fight, for love will lead you back home, to family, to peace, to the heart's true victory,” he added.
The program is named after a 1989 song popularized by American singer Taylor Dayne about a woman who is willing to set her lover free because she is confident that one day his love will lead him back to her.
This pay-op is being specifically directed towards 37 rebels. How will showing videos at community gatherings reach them? If they are living out in the mountains how is any of this supposed to reach them?
Maybe another article will shine some light on this psy-op.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2033150/afp-uses-love-month-to-encourage-npa-fighters-to-surrender |
The Armed Forces of the Philippines in Eastern Visayas is using the observance of “love month” this February to encourage members of the New People’s Army (NPA) to return to the fold of the law.
The campaign, spearheaded by the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, which covers the provinces of Leyte and parts of Samar and Eastern Samar, aims to persuade rebels to end their armed struggle against the government, according to Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, the commander of the brigade based in Ormoc City, Leyte.
Dubbed “Love Will Lead You Back,” the campaign seeks to send a message to insurgents.
“This month of love, the 802nd Infantry Brigade delivers a strong appeal: abandon the fight, for love will lead you back home—to family, to peace, to the heart’s true victory,” Vestuir said over the weekend.
Set against the backdrop of Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14, the initiative aims to remind insurgents that love and peace await them at home.
Vestuir hoped that active communist rebels would be encouraged to surrender, following the example of their former comrades who have already abandoned their cause.
“Through this campaign, we hope to touch the hearts of those still hiding in the mountains, urging them to lay down their arms and embrace a future filled with hope and reconciliation,” he said.
Vestuir said the brigade would utilize both emotional appeals and technology to reach out to active rebels.
Their former comrades, along with their families, will be featured in online campaigns to encourage others to surrender.
“This creative approach merges technology and emotion, leveraging the universal theme of love to reach out to insurgents in ways that traditional methods cannot,” he said.
By showcasing real stories of former rebels who have successfully reintegrated into society, the “Love Will Lead You Back” program seeks to dispel fears about surrendering and highlight the government’s commitment to peace and rehabilitation.
Nope. Nothing here sheds any light on this program. How exactly is the program supposed to reach rebels hiding out in the mountains and jungles? The public needs an explanation.
The fight goes on. Baybay City has been declared NPA-free.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/2/8/baybay-city-achieves-npa-free-status |
Baybay City in Leyte has been declared free from the New People’s Army and now in a Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition.
The declaration made after no communist rebels were sighted in the city for two years was highlighted by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and a Pledge of Commitment and release of white doves symbolizing peace and new beginnings.
Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos Cari, chairman of the City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, thanked stakeholders who we helped achieve SIPSC.
Cari said the milestone paves the way for further progress in the city and better quality of life for constituents.
Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, 802nd Infantry (Peerless) Brigade chief, commended the city government and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to upholding a safe and peaceful environment.
"The declaration of Baybay City as a stable internal peace and security condition city signified our hard-earned victory of winning the peace in which some of us offered the ultimate sacrifice to achieve.”
He said the SIPSC is just the beginning of a brighter and more progressive future for the people of Baybay City.
It took two years for this city to reach that status. But always remember NPA-free does not mean there are no insurgents. This series of articles has discussed that fact many times. The status rests on NPA rebels not being sighted, not on the complete absence of NPA rebels.
An NPA rebel was recently killed in a clash.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/2/11/npa-rebel-killed-in-negros-oriental-clash-1 |
A New People’s Army rebel was killed in an encounter with the 62nd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Talaon, La Libertad, Negros Oriental on Monday night, Feb. 10.
The casualty was identified as Rolito Tanillo, alias Roy and Gamatoy, a resident of Barangay Talaon, La Libertad and an alleged member of the Sangay Yunit Propaganda (SYP) Squad, Central Negros 1 (CN1)-Dismantled (D), Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor (KR-NCBS).
The military was pursuing communist rebels responsible for the burning of heavy equipment in Sitio Manghuya, Barangay Aya, La Libertad on Saturday night, Feb. 8, when they engaged Tanillo’s group.
The body of Tanillo was left behind by his comrades fleeing from the encounter site.
Soldiers coordinated with La Libertad Municipal Police Station and the town rescue team for the retrieval of his cadaver. Recovered from the encounter site was an M14 rifle with defaced serial number.
No soldier was wounded in the gunbattle. Additional forces were deployed to reinforce pursuing troops.
The Leonardo Panaligan Command-NPA has admitted burning the heavy equipment – a dump truck, a road roller, and two backhoes – being used in the construction of a farm-to-market road that they said would pave the way for mining companies to operate and commercial reforestation projects that would displace individuals living in the mountains.
Burning heavy equipment won't earn anyone friends.
Two NPA leaders were killed in a clash in Agusan del Sur.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/2/14/npa-leaders-killed-in-agusan-clash |
A New People’s Army commanding officer and his vice commander were killed in an encounter with soldiers in Barangay San Lorenzo, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
The casualties were identified as Joven, commanding officer of the Regional Sentro de Gravidad of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee, and Garing, vice commanding officer. Their bodies were turned over to the local government of Prosperidad for proper disposition.
Capt. Arc F. Jayson, civil-military operations officer of the 401st Infantry (Unite N’ Fight) Brigade, said they launched the operation after receiving reports that communist rebels have been extorting goods and money from residents.
Troops engaged the NPA in a 15-minute firefight and left behind the bodies of the two casualties, two backpacks, a handheld radio, two Nokia cellphones, blasting caps, grenade, claymore mine, medical supplies, and subversive documents.
These were taken to proper authorities for further investigation and subsequent filing of criminal cases.
Col. Emil Cruz, commanding officer of the 401st Brigade, commended troops for their achievement.
Cruz urged the remaining NPA members to surrender and live a peaceful life.
"We remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of our community,” he said. “This successful operation is a testament to the support of the local residents who stand alongside with us in our shared quest for a peaceful and progressive life for all of us."
Soldiers are pursuing the fleeing rebels.
In Butuan another of the non-existent NPA leaders has been killed in a clash. It turns out this person is a really big fish.
Soldiers killed top New People’s Army leader Myrna Sularte, alias Maria Malaya and widow of the late NPA leader Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos, in an encounter in Barangay Pianing, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 12.
Madlos was one of the old guards of the communist movement in Mindanao and was killed in an encounter with government forces in Bukidnon in October 2021.
Capt. Jonel Castillo, spokesperson of the Army 901st Brigade based in Placer, Surigao del Norte, confirmed over the phone that Sularte was killed in the gun battle.
Castillo added that Sularte was the secretary of NPA-Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee and a member of the political bureau of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Soldiers pursuing Sularte engaged her group in two encounters at 6:10 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.
Soldiers pursued her and was eventually killed in a gun battle at around 1 p.m. in the hinterlands of Sitio Imelda, Barangay Pianing.
Her death was a big blow to the rebel movement in Northeastern Mindanao and there are no other prominent figures left to assume leadership.
Following the death of her husband, Sularte had been the subject of focused military operations in the Caraga region and Northern Mindanao.Sularte was a native of Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur and is one of the most wanted NPA leaders in the country due to multiple criminal charges, including rebellion, murder, multiple murder, and frustrated murder.
Her death is not just a big blow to the rebel movement. It is a strategic victory.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/2/13/death-of-top-npa-leader-maria-malaya-called-strategic-victory |
The Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police said on Thursday, Feb. 13, that the death of New People’s Army leader Myrna Sularte, alias Maria Malaya, in Barangay Pianing, this city, on Wednesday, Feb. 12, is a strategic victory against the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA in Mindanao.
“The remaining small group of the NPA, armed wing of the CPP, is already in disarray after neutralizing their top leader during three separate engagements in their regional headquarters on Wednesday, Feb. 12,” Brig. Gen. Michele B. Anayron Jr., 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division chief, and Police Regional Office-13 (PRO-13) Director Police Brig. Gen. Christopher N. Abrahano said.
Brig. Gen. Arsenio D.C. Sadural, commanding general of the 901st Infantry Brigade, said the neutralization of Sularte is a big loss to the communist movement in Mindanao.
“The 30th IB executed three successful operations, and decisively engaged the group of Ka Malaya at their regional headquarters, culminating in the capture of numerous items, CPP-NPA war documents, war materials and personal belongings,” said Sadural. “We have finally brought an end to the reign of terror in Caraga.”
Anayron commended the 30th Infantry Battalion under the 901st Brigade for neutralizing the highest NPA leader in the Caraga region. “We fervently hope that the neutralization of the highest leader of the CPP-NPA in the area will be the final straw, leading to the total surrender of the remaining members and the eventual end of the CPP-NPA in our area of responsibility.”
Sularte was the widow of the late Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, a prominent figure of the CPP-NPA National Operations Command who was killed in a gunbattle in Bukidnon province in October 2021.
It only matters if the remaining rebels surrender.
The National Amnesty Commission says it has received over 2,000 amnesty applications.
The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) on Wednesday announced it has received over 2,000 amnesty applications through in its 19 Local Amnesty Boards (LABs).
In a statement, it said four of its LABs have resolved a total of 45 applications, which are currently under review by the agency.
These applications are expected to be forwarded to the Office of the President soon for approval of the Chief Executive.
The NAC said this milestone marks a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in the country.
The NAC, which is mandated to receive and process applications for amnesty to members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partidong Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP/RPA/ABB), former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), has employed different means to cascade the government’s amnesty program.
NAC chairperson Leah Tanodra-Armamento underscored the importance of the amnesty program and said this is a "benevolent act of the President" as this allowed applicants to return to the government fold and live as productive citizens in line with the principle of reconciliation.
She added receiving an amnesty means a fresh start to live under the rule of law and an opportunity to access various government benefits and services available to citizens.
Currently, the NAC has established 19 LABs in key locations, including National Capital Region, Pampanga, La Union, Baguio, Isabela, Albay, Quezon, Iloilo, Bacolod, Catbalogan, Tacloban, Pagadian, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Davao, Jolo (Sulu), Basilan, Koronadal, and Butuan, with two additional LABs set to be established in the Mimaropa region and Bohol.
The LABs serve as frontline offices tasked with receiving applications from interested parties. They also conduct various information, education, and communication campaigns to raise awareness about the amnesty program, ultimately increasing the number of applications.
These campaigns include visits to identified campsites in coordination with other government agencies and non-government organizations, as well as jail visits to accommodate applications from persons deprived of liberty.
Through its vision, the NAC aims to restore the civil and political rights of former rebels and combatants, contributing to the achievement of lasting peace.
With the number of NPA rebels and Islamic insurgents who have surrendered 2,000 seems rather low.
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