The AFP has once again declared the NPA to be leaderless. There is also only 1 weakened front remaining. Only 1,050 rebels are left scattered around the country. Dismantling the last guerrilla front has proved challenging because they continue to evade the AFP.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1246859 |
The New People’s Army (NPA) is now “leaderless” and only has one remaining “weakened’ guerrilla front that is expected to be dismantled within the year, the National Security Council (NSC) said Wednesday.
In a panel discussion hosted by the Presidential Communications Office, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), is now “at its lowest point in its more than 50 years of reign of terror in the countryside.”
“They are leaderless now because the entire Central Committee, we have neutralized many of them,” Malaya said.
“So, it's actually a leaderless organization. The only ones running it are the small unit commanders,” he added.
Malaya attributed the CPP-NPA’s apparent defeat to leadership losses following the death of its founder, Jose Maria Sison, and neutralization of key Central Committee members; focused military and police operations; socio-economic investments; and sustained localized peace engagements.
He said the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’s (NTF-ELCAC) anti-terror grooming and radicalization program impeded the NPA’s recruitment efforts in schools and universities.
He added that the NPA did not succeed in reclaiming its lost mass bases because of the NTF-ELCAC’s initiatives, intensified military and police operations, legal and financial restrictions, socio-economic projects, and amnesty programs.
Malaya touted the “98.88 percent” accomplishment rate in dismantling the NPA’s guerilla fronts, adding that the rebels could no longer be considered a threat to the peaceful conduct of the May 2025 mid-term elections.
“There is now only one remaining weakened guerilla front in the province of Camarines Sur. It’s sad that I’m from there. And this remaining weakened GF will be dismantled within the year,” he said.
“At present, there are only 1,050 remaining NPA armed members scattered and isolated in some parts of the country. When NTF-ELCAC was organized, 89 po lahat iyan, (they are 89), 89 guerilla fronts. And now, we are at one weakened guerilla front,” Malaya added.
While there is only one NPA guerilla front in the country, it is “very challenging” to dismantle the group because it is “constantly evading [the] troops," Armed Forces of the Philippines Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Jimmy Larida said.
Larida, however, remained optimistic that the remaining guerrilla front would be dismantled by March.
March is almost over and the front remains. No word on the time frame for defeating the remaining 1,050 rebels. The AFP says the remaining rebels are being run by small unit commanders. That is still leadership.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2047592/npa-commander-from-negros-yields-to-cebu-city-police |
An alleged commander of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Tuesday surrendered to the police in this city.
Misael Atadero Dela Cruz, 57, a resident of Sitio Kakha, Barangay Talalak, Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental, was accompanied by his wife.
He said he decided to surrender in Cebu City “for security purposes” as he feared yielding to authorities in Negros.
Dela Cruz, also known as “Jimlan, Layan, Ly, Totoy, Yanyan, Naldo, and Yaksel” is facing multiple charges in court and said he was tired of hiding.
The suspect is considered a “national level most wanted person.”
“I think he feels more at ease surrendering and revealing himself in Cebu City, possibly because of the media presence here. That might be a way for him to protect himself,” said Lieutenant Colonel Macatangay, deputy director for operations of the Cebu City Police Office.
The police served multiple warrants of arrest against him when he surrendered to the Abellana Police Station in Cebu City with the assistance of the Regional Intelligence Unit.
The suspect has outstanding warrants for three counts of rebellion issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 63 in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental; and violations of Republic Act 9851 (Crimes Against International Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity) issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 64 in Guihulngan City.He also has three counts of murder charges issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 63 in Bayawan City and Branch 64 in Guihulngan City; two counts of frustrated murder issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 64 in Guihulngan City and Branch 63 in Bayawan City; and violations of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act), Republic Act 7166, and Comelec Resolution No. 10728, all issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 38 in Dumaguete City.
He also faces two counts of robbery issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 64 in Guihulngan City and six counts of theft issued by the same court in Guihulngan City.
That is also one less commander.
Between January 1st and March 20th 254 Reds have been neutralized.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday announced that 254 New People's Army (NPA) rebels and their supporters have been "neutralized" from Jan. 1 to March 20 this year.
In an interview with PTV-4's "Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon", AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said that of this number, 210 voluntarily surrendered to government security troops.
"Neutralize" is a military term that refers to the taking of out of action, either through surrender, capture or in military encounters of NPA and local terrorist group members.
While not giving specific details on how the other 44 rebels were "neutralized", Padilla said the high number of surrenderers indicates the thinning of the NPA ranks.
The military last year said that 88 out of the 89 NPA guerilla fronts have been neutralized, leaving behind only one weakened front.
The AFP attributed its success in neutralizing the politico-military component of the communist insurgents with the creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in 2018.
With this development, the AFP spokesperson reiterated the military's appeal to all remaining NPA members and supporters to surrender and avail of the government's amnesty program.
Padilla also reminded these communist insurgents that the "doors of peace will not be open forever" as the amnesty period is only until next year.
"Hinihikayat po namin ang natitira sa kanilang hanay (we are appealing to those still remaining in the NPA ranks), to come back to the folds of the law, and join us in a bigger challenge which is territorial defense," she said.
Environment officials in Agusan del Norte will donate 16,494 board feet of confiscated lumber to support a housing project for former communist rebels, authorities announced Thursday.
The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Nasipit said the materials, seized during 2023 anti-illegal logging operations, would help construct homes in Sitio Talaganahaw, Barangay Talo-ao, Buenavista town.
The project aims to provide 123 housing units through a partnership between provincial and municipal governments.
"This donation supports our former rebels' transition to peaceful lives," a CENRO-Nasipit spokesperson said.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) has allocated PHP10 million (USD180,000) for the initial construction of 18 units this year, with remaining homes scheduled for 2026 completion.
The inter-agency initiative represents part of the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program for rebel returnees.
Local officials confirmed the lumber meets construction standards and would be supplemented with additional materials as needed.
The town of Saint Bernard in Southern Leyte has been declared as completely free from the influence of the New People's Army (NPA), an army official said Thursday.
With no sightings of armed rebels for several years now, the town has achieved insurgency-free status and officially has stable internal peace and security conditions (SIPC), Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said.
Officials led a ceremony on Wednesday to highlight the declarations, which included the signing of memoranda of agreements and pledges of commitment, along with the simultaneous release of white doves, symbolizing peace and new beginnings.
Vestuir lauded the collaborative efforts of the members of the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and the support of the community that led to attaining a significant milestone in terms of peace and security.
“This declaration is important as it’s a symbol of the strong commitment of the local government units towards peace and security. We are happy that many towns in Southern Leyte attained the SIPSC status. This is the fruit of everyone’s efforts and not just by the military,” Vestuir said in a phone interview Thursday.
Saint Bernard town Mayor Edito Mulig thanked all stakeholders who were instrumental in achieving the state of SIPSC.
He said this milestone paves the way for further progress in their town, enhancing the quality of life for their constituents.
The Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government reaffirmed their strong support and commitment to sustaining stable peace and security in Saint Bernard.
Saint Bernard, a coastal town with a population of more than 28,000, is located 151 kilometers south of Tacloban City, the regional capital.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/03/27/2431394/marcos-will-never-abolish-ntf-elcac |
President Marcos rejected fresh calls to abolish the government’s anti-insurgency task force, citing its gains in curbing the activities of communist rebels.
According to National Security Council (NSC) assistant director general Jonathan Malaya, Marcos gave this assurance during a meeting with members of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) yesterday at Malacañang.
“In response to the calls of Gabriela party-list Congresswoman Arlene Brosas asking the President to abolish the NTF-ELCAC, I am sorry to relay the bad news to them – that the President made it clear today that he will never abolish the NTF-ELCAC,” Malaya said at a press briefing.?
“The President, as chairman of the NTF-ELCAC himself, recognizes the success of the task force in decimating the terroristic activities of the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front), and if I may quote the President this morning, ‘I’m encouraged by the reports, our efforts are bearing fruit, we have to continue. It has been successful and we need to continue to invest in its success,’” he added.?NTF-ELCAC was created through Executive Order No. 70 signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2018.
Earlier this month, Brosas urged Marcos to abolish the NTF-ELCAC, which she described as “one of the most oppressive state apparatuses created under the Duterte regime.”
According to Malaya, there are only 1,050 remaining NPA members scattered and isolated in some parts of the country. He said the communist insurgency has declined because of the death of its leaders like Joma Sison, focused military and police operations, socioeconomic investments and localized peace engagements.
At the same meeting, President Marcos ordered the Department of Budget and Management to increase the budget of the Barangay Development Program (BDP) under the NTF-ELCAC.
Under the new directive, the DBM would add another P5 million to this year’s current P2.5-million allocation for each barangay that is being granted programs and projects after being cleared of insurgents or NPA presence and influence.
“We have made promises. We must live up to them. Otherwise, they would return to the NPA and say the government is worthless,” Marcos said.
The NSC noted that the National Expenditure Program allocated P10 million each in 2025 for 780 barangays cleared of NPA presence but the General Appropriations Act slashed the funding to P2.5 million per barangay.
“We need to find a way to restore the P10 million per barangay. That’s the most important to me. We’re making good progress because of the BDP. I cannot stress enough that point. The Barangay Development Program is key to the success of the entire NTF ELCAC project,” Marcos stressed.
The NTF-ELCAC is also getting a new partner, The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1247031 |
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) on Friday expressed willingness to aid the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC)'s Barangay Development Program (BDP).
OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., in a statement, said the agency will do this through their "Payapa at Masagang Pamayanan" (PAMANA) program that aims to uplift the lives of Filipinos in conflict-affected areas.
"The OPAPRU is ready to support and complement the NTF-ELCAC’s BDP through the socio-economic initiatives under the PAMANA program," he added.
Galvez made this pledge after National Security Adviser (NSA) Secretary Eduardo Año recommended the OPAPRU as the co-chair of the NTF-ELCAC’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration and Amnesty Program Cluster that was recently approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
He said the OPAPRU is ready to complement the BDP through socio-economic initiatives that would provide conflict-affected communities with much-needed services and create pathways for inclusive development.
"With that, we convey our sincere thanks to Secretary Año for his trust and confidence as we work to address the local communist insurgency and achieve good governance in our localities," Galvez said.
The OPAPRU chief also expressed his full support to Año in light of recent national developments.
"His integrity, wisdom, and genuine commitment to public service are evident in his distinguished career," he added.
Galvez also said he personally witnessed the NSA's exceptional leadership during the Battle of Marawi, where his strategic acumen was crucial to the victory as Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff.
He said Año demonstrated the same resolve during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he was the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which was a vital partner of the National Task Force against Covid-19 in dealing with public health and safety challenges.
"Now, as the NSA, his agency’s support to the OPAPRU has been invaluable for maintaining peace and order, most especially in the Bangsamoro region. This demonstrates his unwavering dedication to national stability," Galvez noted.
Why weren't they coordinating before? Their missions do conicide.
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