Insurgency: Communist Funds

In the Eastern Visayas the news installed Army brigade commander has vowed to sustain the momentum of the anti-insurgency gains. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1263123

The newly installed commander of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade based in Ormoc City has vowed to sustain the momentum of his predecessors in the government’s fight against insurgency in Eastern Visayas.

Brig. Gen. Pompeyo Jason Almagro formally assumed command of the brigade on Wednesday, succeeding Col. Rico Amaro, who served as acting commander for more than a month following the retirement of Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir from military service.

“We will continue what the previous brigade commander has started, as instructed by our division commander,” Almagro said in a media interview after the ceremony.

Among the key initiatives he pledged to sustain is Project Ultimatum, an initiative designed to completely eradicate insurgency in the region by encouraging remaining rebels to surrender.

Under the project, groups of rebels who surrender collectively — particularly those coming from the same province — will receive cash assistance sourced from their respective local government units.

“Fortunately, we have already reduced the number of remaining rebels in Leyte to a significant degree. However, we will continue to carry out our mandate to defeat the remaining insurgent elements operating in Leyte and the southern part of Samar Island,” Almagro said.

Before his new assignment, Almagro served with the 1st Infantry Division in Southern Mindanao — the first military unit to successfully dismantle all fronts of the New People’s Army.

He expressed optimism that his experience in Mindanao would contribute to the Army’s ongoing efforts to finally put an end to the insurgency in Eastern Visayas.

The 802nd Infantry Brigade has operational jurisdiction over Leyte and Biliran Islands, as well as selected towns in the southern parts of Eastern Samar and Samar provinces.

What is "Project Ultimatum?" There hasn't been anything about that until now. Google searches refer to this article. That means it is either brand new or very top secret. This article tells us it's all about the money. When rebels surrender collectively they will win a big cash prize. 

The NTF-ELCAC is appealing a court ruling against the forfeiture of communist funds. 

https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/11/14/news/national/ntf-elcac-appeals-court-ruling-on-forfeiture-of-communist-funds/2223327/amp

THE National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) has urged the Court of Appeals (CA) to reconsider its ruling that voided the forfeiture of P557, 360 seized from arrested journalists Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Mariel Domequil.

It asserted that the money was used to finance operations of the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army (CPP–NPA).

Cumpio and Domequil were arrested in a police raid in Tacloban City on Feb. 7, 2020, over alleged illegal possession of firearms and for allegedly being members of the NPA.

During the implementation of the search warrant, authorities seized a cash box containing P557,360.

Following this, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) requested that the amount be forfeited in favor of the government.

Legal remedies were discussed in a recent inter-agency meeting chaired by Justice Angelita Miranda, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), and the Department of Justice–National Prosecution Service (DOJ–NPS).

The OSG committed to file a motion for reconsideration before the appellate court, to be supported by additional intelligence and legal materials to strengthen the government’s position.

The AMLC earlier secured a favorable decision from the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC), which ordered the forfeiture of the seized funds after evaluating intelligence reports, financial analyses, and sworn statements linking the money to the fact that the CPP–NPA is a designated terrorist organization under Republic Act 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.

According to the Task Force and AMLC, RA 10168 penalizes anyone who provides or collects funds intended to support terrorist activities, regardless of whether the person is formally affiliated with a terrorist group.

Authorities said that the 2020 police operation which led to the seizure of the funds also resulted in the confiscation of firearms, explosives, and subversive materials. Four criminal cases for illegal possession of firearms and one for terrorism financing are pending before the RTC in Tacloban City.

Officials said these findings support the claim that the money was used to fund operations of communist terrorist groups, as defined under RA 10168 and the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (RA 11479).

The NTF-Elcac also expressed concern over reports that foreign consuls have frequently visited Cumpio and Domequil, warning that such actions — though within diplomatic prerogative — could potentially influence public opinion or ongoing judicial proceedings related to national security.

The Task Force reiterated that while it recognizes press freedom and human rights advocacy, these should not be used to shield or justify acts of terrorism financing.

Perhaps the OSG should have provided this additional intelligence in their initial filing. Why not show all the evidence? This article does not explain why the court voided the forfeiture.

One commenter thinks there should be a nationwide ceasefire. 

https://mindanews.com/mindaviews/2025/11/peacetalk-declared-state-of-national-calamity-how-about-declaring-a-nationwide-ceasefire/

President Marcos declared last November 6 a state of national calamity following the deadly Typhoon “Tino” in the Visayas and anticipating Supertyphoon “Uwan” in Luzon but with a practically nationwide range. Warranted indeed. But how about also declaring a unilateral nationwide ceasefire for calamity-related humanitarian purposes in relation to the local communist armed conflict?

Ideally, it best be a declaration by both sides involving the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the New People’s Army (NPA). Even if done only unilaterally by each of the two sides, it would practically amount to a bilateral ceasefire. Also ideally, since we are in the third “ber” month already of November, might as well extend it to the fourth and last “ber” month of December to include the traditional ceasefire occasion of the Christmas to New Year holidays break.

Such a calamity-related humanitarian ceasefire extended to the Christmas to New Year holidays break would allow both the AFP and the NPA to devote more attention to their respective disaster risk reduction and management services instead of their respective military offensives, whether tactical or strategic. This would give some welcome respite from the armed conflict not only for the mostly rural communities in the crossfire of that conflict but also the soldiers and Red fighters themselves. They can put that respite to good use like, among others, disaster rescue, relief and rehabilitation assistance. 

The challenge to declare a unilateral nationwide ceasefire for calamity-related humanitarian purposes is thus hereby addressed to both sides. The natural and man-made calamities-buffeted people await and will judge your response to this challenge. Better if both sides respond positively. In which case, it could or should be the stepping stone for something more than just disaster relief and fighting respite.

Such a ceasefire may as well also be the “specific measure of goodwill and confidence-building to create a favorable climate” for the political leaderships and negotiators of both sides to — no longer unilaterally but it has to be bilaterally — revisit their supposed breakthrough Oslo Joint Statement of November 23, 2023 on the occasion of its coming second anniversary. Remember its very first paragraph:

 “Cognizant of the serious socioeconomic and environmental issues, and the foreign security threats facing the country, the parties recognize the need to unite as a nation in order to urgently address these challenges and resolve the reasons for the armed conflict.”

Perhaps restart or reboot peace talks by “urgently addressing” first “the serious socioeconomic and environmental issues” highlighted by the recent natural calamities and the flood control and other infrastructure projects corruption scandal. If the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) cannot yet somehow agree on the roots of “the serious socioeconomic and environmental issues,” they might agree at least on concrete effective measures “to urgently address these challenges” even in the short to medium term.

Again, even if the parties do not yet agree on “the roots of the armed conflict,” their sincere and serious discussions “to urgently address… the serious socioeconomic and environmental issues” could and should consciously contribute “to come up with a framework that sets the priorities for the peace negotiation with the aim of achieving the relevant socioeconomic and political reforms towards a just and lasting peace” — as envisioned in the third paragraph of their Oslo Joint Statement.

This of course all depends IF the parties are sincere and serious about the peace negotiations for “Resolving the roots of the armed conflict and ending the armed struggle shall pave the way for the transformation of the CPP-NPA-NDFP” per the second paragraph of their Oslo Joint Statement. On the occasion of its coming second anniversary within this month of November 2025, that sincerity about the whole process of peace negotiations itself is perhaps what the parties should more fundamentally revisit.

A ceasefire will likely not happen. The AFP is focused on wiping out the NPA whether through bullets or cash. 

In Zamboanaga City a combination of 86 ASG and NPA supporters have surrendered,

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1263299

A total of 64 former Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) supporters and 22 New People’s Army (NPA) supporters voluntarily surrendered in Zamboanga City, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.

The group surrendered at the Regional Mobile Force Battalion - Zamboanga Peninsula (RMFB 9) Battalion Headquarters at Camp Col. Romeo A. Abendan, Zamboanga City and turned over 19 rifles of various calibers, eight .38 revolvers, three shotguns, one Uzi, one .22 pistol, and three explosives.

They later took their oath of allegiance and were subjected to interviews and documentation. All firearms were properly accounted for and secured by RMFB 9.

The surrenderers are currently under the custody of the RMFB 9 for further processing and assistance by government agencies. 

Jointly facilitating the surrender were the RMFB 9, Isabela CPS, Zamboanga City Police Office, Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Police Office, Zamboanga Sibugay PPO, Zamboanga del Norte PPO, Sulu PPO, the Maritime Group 9, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police.

Meanwhile, the PNP also on Friday said a total of P107 million worth of confiscated smuggled cigarettes have been confiscated in two operations in Sta. Cruz Island in Zamboanga City. 

In a statement, the PNP said the latest update builds on Thursday’s report, which first detailed the arrest of seven adult male crew members and the seizure of PHP21 million worth of cigarettes from the Jungkung vessel M/B Sophia Jayy.

The progress report said a follow-up inventory, carried out at 8 a.m. of the same date, uncovered a much larger shipment on the Jungkung M/B Zhyryne. The vessel was found carrying 800 master cases of Soda Red and 382 master cases of Soda Menthol, amounting to PHP86,240,000.00. 

The PNP said that brings the total volume from both vessels to 1,532 master cases. 

The operation was executed through the coordinated efforts of the police authorities in Zamboanga City during a seaborne patrol in the waters near Sta. Cruz Island on Nov. 12. 

It's not clear how many are mere supporters versus actual members.