Insurgency: AFP Close To Ending Insurgency

In Lanao del Sur the PNP engaged in a clash with six members of the Maute Group. All six were subjects of arrest warrants. Three of them were killed while three of them were arrested. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/955425/3-suspected-di-maute-members-killed-3-arrested-in-lumbayanague-lanao-del-sur/story/

The Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested three fugitives reported to be members of Dawlah Islamiyah Maute Group (DI-MG), while three others were killed during an operation in Barangay Lamin in Lumbayanague, Lanao del Sur over the weekend.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the male fugitives—known as Abu Zacaria, Al Wala, and Asnawi—were arrested on Saturday, August 9, 2025 in an operation that resulted in an armed encounter, where three other wanted persons were killed: males Anwar Rahman and Abdullah, and a female, Nahara. They were rushed to the Tamparan Hospital, but were declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The PNP said all six were subjects of arrest warrants for murder and homicide issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 8 in Marawi, Lanao Del Sur on October 17, 2023. They were said to be members of the DI-MG, and are listed on the AFP Periodic Status Report for 2023.

The PNP said operating discovered and seized the an M4A1 Colt caliber 5.56mm rifle, a caliber 45 pistol, a hand grenade, a rocket propelled grenade (RPG), a homemade M79 grenade launcher, 13 pieces of IED blasting caps, two black ISIS flags, one M16 A1 rifle, assorted assorted magazines, rounds of assorted live ammunition, and fired cartridge cases.

Amerol Usman, alleged leader of the DI Maute Group - ISIS, and other subjects of the arrest warrant, evaded arrest during the firefight.

Philippine Army troop Corporal Johnson Francisco Zorca sustained a gunshot wound in the left knee during the encounter. He was initially rushed to the Tamparan Hospital, and transferred to the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi where he is now in stable condition.

In a twist it turns out the three Maute members who were arrested were minors. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2094075/among-suspected-daulah-islamiya-maute-fighters-arrested-were-3-minors

The three suspected Daulah Islamiya-Maute Group fighters arrested in Lumbayanague town in Lanao del Sur over the weekend are minors, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the three minors are under the custody of the Philippine Army and will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“In this operation, we have captured minors. Some fighters used by the Maute were also killed in the encounter—a woman died, and a man also died. Some also escaped, and these are the identified,” Torre disclosed in a press briefing on Monday.

“We have three people arrested and in Army custody; we are turning them over to the DSWD for proper intervention,” he added.

Confiscated from the suspects were high-powered firearms such as M14 and M16 rifles, an M79 grenade launcher, and a .45-caliber pistol, as well as hand grenades, RPG blasting caps, and other war materials.

The PNO said recruiting child fighters has always been part of the Maute Group’s strategy, since law enforcers are more cautious when they see children during such encounters.

Based on the police report, three other suspected Daulah Islamiya-Maute Group fighters were killed after they fired upon army troops and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group personnel serving a warrant in Lumbayanague town last Saturday.

Authorities said that although the brief firefight occurred in a populated area, no civilian casualties were reported.

Since the PNP had an arrest warrant they cannot possibly have been ignorant that the three they arrested are minors. It also turns out that the leader of the group and several others escaped during the raid. The PNP is now coordinating with the AFP to prevent any retaliatory attack. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1256269

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre on Monday said they are now coordinating with the military in preparing to thwart any attempt for a retaliatory attack by the Dawlah Islamiya Maute Group (DI-MG).

This, after three DI-MG members were killed and three “minor” combatants were captured following a clash with government troops in Lanao del Sur on Aug. 9.

“We want to assure our kababayan (countrymen) that we are in control of the situation,” Torre said in a press conference at Camp Crame.

Torre said the three minors are now under the custody of the Philippine Army and will soon be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Ever since, recruiting child fighters has become the Maute's modus operandi because when it comes to fighting in the field, our personnel naturally have a different view when they encounter children, so this is a despicable act by the Maute,” he said.

“That is why part of our preemptive measures is to debunk their propaganda in the recruitment. This is a whole-of-government approach.”

Torre said government troops are hunting down all the DI-MG remnants, and the Lanao del Sur operation proved that the government is bent on crushing the terrorists.

He said the DI-MG in Mindanao is composed of locals, “but if we ever monitor the presence of foreign fighters, we will certainly prioritize them.”

A member of the Army’s 5th Infantry Battalion was wounded during the firefight with DI-MG.

The soldiers recovered an M16 rifle, an M4 rifle, an M79 grenade launcher, a rocket-propelled grenade, hand grenades, blasting caps, ammunition, and two flags of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

These minors are being called "child fighters" but their ages have not been disclosed.  That means they could be anywhere between 17 and 1. It only serves to make the public hate the Maute Group even more because they have recruited child fighters even if that "child" is 17 years old. It's great propaganda though. 

During the 20205 State of the Nation Address President Marcos declared there are no more guerrilla groups left in the country. Members of these non-existent groups continue to clash with the NPA and kill soldiers. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2095030/3-soldiers-killed-in-clash-with-npa-in-oriental-mindoro

Three Philippine Army personnel, including an officer with a rank of captain, were killed in an encounter with  New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Baco, Oriental Mindoro on Tuesday.

Initial police reports said that the encounter occurred in Sitio (sub-village) Lantuyan, Barangay (village) Dulangan 2 at around  6:00 a.m. after members of the 203rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army went to the area acting on reports of communist rebels’ presence in the area.

The fatalities were identified by the police as Captain Marky John O. Alberto, Corporal Charlie P. Legaspi and Private Julian R. Oracion of the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment.  

The firefight lasted for more than an hour before the NPA rebels retreated, leaving behind personal paraphernalia and documents, the military said in a separate initial report.

Military operations continued to track the NPA members, the police said.

This attack prompted Sara Duterte to pipe up to condemn the attack and claim her father "succeeded agains the insurgency."

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/13/3-soldiers-slain-in-mindoro-clash-shows-insurgency-remains-a-threatvp-sara

Vice President Sara Duterte warned Filipinos against the threats of insurgency and urged them to strengthen their communities’ response against it after three soldiers of the Philippine Army were killed in a recent clash with the New People’s Army (NPA) in Baco, Oriental Mindoro.

In a statement, the Vice President issued a stern warning against the rebirth of insurgency in the country, which she claimed is now imbedded in government and academic institutions.

“The deaths of our soldiers in the hands of the terrorist NPA is a reminder of the dangers of insurgency,” she said on Wednesday, Aug. 13.

Captain Marky John Alberto, Corporal Charlie Legaspi, and Private Julian Oracion of the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment were killed on Tuesday, Aug. 12, in an encounter with NPA rebels after they went to Barangay Lantuyang to act on reports of communist rebels’ presence in the area.

“The administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte succeeded against insurgency but we know that the poison of the terrorist group has reached government institutions and schools from where they get their new recruits,” Duterte added.

By condemning the NPA and calling it a plague to society, the Vice President also asked all Filipinos who dream of living righteously and peacefully to do the same.

“Let us not let the sacrifices of our soldiers go to waste. Let us strengthen our communities against insurgency and terrorism,” she said. 

“Let us always remember that our freedom relies on peace and order. And true progress of our country will be born from this,” Duterte added.

however, the insurgency has not been reborn. It has simply not gone away nor did the her Father's administration "succeed against the insurgency." The AFP continues to fight the NPA. AFP Chief Brawner visited the troops in Mindoro after the attack and promised them the insurgency is close to ending. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1256635

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Thursday said the military is close to its goal of ending the decades-long communist insurgency in the country.

During his visit to the 203rd Infantry Brigade in Oriental Mindoro Thursday, Brawner honored the courage and resolve of troops involved in recent encounters with New People's Army (NPA) rebels in the province.

"We can win this fight,” Brawner told the troops, according to an AFP statement late Thursday.

He noted that an agreement is set to be signed soon that will end the insurgency.

"A framework agreement will be signed soon where it is stipulated that the NPA will cease with their armed rebellion -- what we are wishing for for peace," he said.

Brawner also touted the military's recent gains against the NPA, such as the Aug. 8 surrender of 189 rebels and turnover of 72 firearms and explosives in Quezon and Bukidnon; turnover of 49 loose firearms in Upi, Maguindanao del Norte; and the July 27 neutralization of seven NPA members and the seizure of several weapons in Uson, Masbate.

If there are no more guerrilla groups and no more leaders as Marcos and the AFP claim, then who will be signing such an agreement?  This agreement has seemingly come out of nowhere at just the right time. 

Meanwhile, in Samar local executives of NPA hotbeds have renounced the rebels. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1256334

Local officials in the town of San Jose de Buan, historically known as a hotbed of communist rebel activity in Samar, have signed a document renouncing support for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

According to the Army’s 87th Infantry Battalion (IB), the signing of the affidavit of commitment during the 2025 Local Peace Engagement forum on Monday is a powerful display of unity and commitment to lasting peace.

“This forum is not just an event; it’s a movement. San Jose de Buan stands firm in its mission to build resilient, insurgency-free communities through dialogue, trust, and genuine collaboration,” the army unit said in a statement on Tuesday.

Local officials from the town’s 14 villages and five sitios (sub-villages), youth council members, and village watchmen joined the forum to push the government’s peace agenda and strengthen the whole-of-nation approach against local communist armed conflict.

“My appeal to the remaining NPA members is to surrender for them to avail [of] amnesty. There’s no future if you continue to embrace the communist ideology. The local government is ready to help you,” San Jose de Buan Vice Mayor Joaquin Elizalde said in a video message shared by the 87th IB.

San Jose de Buan, a fourth-class municipality with a population of nearly 8,000, is one of the NPA’s strongholds in Samar Island, considering its strategic location within the tri-boundaries of Northern, Eastern, and Samar provinces.

The most recent clash in the town was on June 9, when government forces seized five firearms from NPA rebels in Can-aponte village.

Although the town has historically been considered an NPA hotbed, recent developments indicate a shift toward peace and reintegration efforts.

Among the government initiatives that encourage rebels to abandon the armed struggle are the local integration program and housing project for surrenderers.

San Jose de Buan is called an NPA stronghold and hotbed but the AFP does not offer a number on how many rebels remain. With the last clash being June 9th, and with the AFP's insistence there is no leadership it can't be many.