It's that time of the year again. The Tim when the CPP-NPA declares a holiday truce. Much like the Christmas truce of 1914 when the German, French, and British cased hostilities and even crossed through no man's land to mingle and exchange gifts, and even engage in caroling and then went back to killing each other, the CPP-NPA has decided to silence their guns in celebration of the birth of Jesus and the ushering in of the new year after which they will go back to killing government forces.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/678934/ph-communist-party-declare-christmas-new-year-ceasefire |
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Monday declared a four-day ceasefire for Christmas and New Year — an order which prompted the New People’s Army (NPA) to be on the defensive during this period.
The central committee of the Maoist communist ruling party will hold a ceasefire from 00:00 hours of December 25, 2025 to 23:59 hours of December 26, 2025; and 00:00 hours of December 31, 2025 to 23:59 hours of January 1, 2026.
“This temporary ceasefire order is being issued in solidarity with the Filipino people as they conduct simple celebrations of their traditional holidays amid grave social and economic conditions,” CPP information officer Marco Valbuena said in a statement.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has yet to release a statement on CPP’s pronouncement.
Nevertheless, during the four days, Valbuena said the NPA rebels are ordered to be in “active defense mode” and to be on “high alert” against ground and aerial attacks of the AFP.
Aside from the commemoration of the holidays, Valbuena said the ceasefire is also to mark the 57th anniversary of the CPP on December 26, 1968.
CPP’s armed wing, NPA, was later established on March 29, 1969, waging the world’s longest Maoist insurgency to date.
The total number of NPA members has dropped to around 780, far from its peak in 1987 when the Maoist guerrillas had up to 25,000 members, according to the anticommunist task force’s estimates, which Valbuena disputed without giving an exact estimate, citing strategic reasons.
As of this month, the National Amnesty Commission also said over 5,043 former NPA members have applied to local amnesty boards nationwide.
In 2023, the government and the CPP’s political wing, the National Democratic Front, agreed to a “principled and peaceful resolution of the armed conflict,” as stated in the Oslo Joint Communique.
It's funny because communism is a materialist, atheistic philosophy and because government forces will not be honoring this unilateral ceasefire.
The AFP calls it propaganda.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265197 |
The Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday dubbed as "propaganda" the four-day unilateral ceasefire declared by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
"The CPP statement should be taken as it is —a sad propaganda stunt of a terrorist organization," the DND said in a statement, stressing that the move will not be reciprocated by the government.
"Military duties are not subject to pause or seasons, thus the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shall continue to support the Philippine National Police in keeping peace and order this holiday season," it said.
In a separate statement, the AFP vowed to continue with its operations despite the CPP's pronouncement.
"Military responsibilities are continuous and are not subject to unilateral pronouncements by armed groups. In close coordination with other law enforcement agencies, the AFP will continue lawful security operations to ensure peace and order and prevent armed groups from exploiting the situation to regroup, rearm, or threaten public safety," it said.
The DND reiterated its call for the remaining members of the New People's Army (NPA), the CPP's armed wing, to shun violence and find ways to pursue lasting peace and development.
"We urge the remaining members of the armed groups to abandon violence, lay down their arms, and return to the fold of the law in the interest of lasting peace and development," it said.
The DND and the AFP issued their statements after the CPP ordered the NPA to implement a four-day ceasefire in observance of its 57th anniversary and the holidays.
The ceasefire will take effect on Dec. 25 and 26, 2025 and on Dec. 31, 2025 and Jan. 1, 2026.
The CPP was established by the late Jose Maria "Joma" Sison on Dec. 26, 1968.
The AFP says laying down their weapons and surrendering would be more inducive to bringing about lasting peace.
The NTF-ELCAC has also downplayed the holiday truce.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/12/17/2494835/ntf-elcac-downplays-cpp-holiday-truce |
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has played down the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)’s declaration of a unilateral holiday ceasefire, saying it lacks credibility and does not show a real commitment to peace during the Christmas and New Year season.
In a statement, NTF-ELCAC said the ceasefire was announced without any coordination with the government and has no clear system to ensure it will be followed. The task force said this makes the truce difficult to verify and unreliable.
NTF-ELCAC also noted that CPP orders reportedly keep New People’s Army (NPA) units on “active defense mode” and “high alert,” which it said goes against the idea of a ceasefire and could still endanger communities and local officials.
The task force stressed that public safety is not limited to the holiday season. It said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police will continue to perform their duty to protect the public, especially as people travel and gather during the holidays.
NTF-ELCAC pointed out that the NPA is now much weaker compared to its strength in the 1980s, citing sustained government efforts, better governance, and the choice of many former rebels to return to peaceful civilian life.
It appears that the NTF-ELCAC thinks the ceasefire would be valid if it had been run by the Philippine government. They have previously participated in the annual holiday truce.
Westmincom has also mocked the CPP ceasefire.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265389 |
The Western Mindanao Command on Wednesday dismissed the Communist Party of the Philippines' unilateral ceasefire declaration, stating that a temporary pause without abandoning armed struggle does not constitute genuine peace.
Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran, Westmincom commander, said the four-day ceasefire scheduled for Christmas and New Year's does not change the security situation on the ground.
“Peace is not proven by unilateral ceasefire declaration, but by laying down arms and returning to the fold of the law,” Gumiran said.
The CPP central committee announced the ceasefire on Monday, to take effect from December 25 to 26 and from December 31 to January 1, 2026.
Gumiran called on remaining New People's Army members to surrender and avail themselves of government reintegration programs, while warning that military operations will continue to protect civilians from lawless armed groups.
He appealed to communities and local leaders to help convince rebels to surrender, emphasizing that lasting peace requires collective action and the complete abandonment of armed rebellion.
Being that Western Mindanao Command is under the AFP its not surprising they are also urging the remaining NPA rebels to surrender.
Every time an NPA leader is killed in battle the AFP says it is a crucial blow to the insurgency and proof that they are dying out. Now they are saying the same about a recently discovered weapons cache.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265356 |
Police and military personnel recovered a New People's Army (NPA) arms cache containing high-powered firearms in Labo, Camarines Norte, the 9th Infantry Division (9ID) reported on Tuesday night.
In an interview on Wednesday, 9ID spokesperson Maj. Frank Roldan said the firearms seized include 26 M14 rifles, ammunition, M14 and M16 magazines, following a tip-off from local residents from a remote area of Barangay Exciban.
"The information about the area was provided by the residents and confirmed by a former rebel. Our troops went to verify the information, and their efforts paid off when they unearthed the weapons," he said.
He added that the NPA is hiding its weapons due to the extreme shortage of its members.
"This also proves that there are only a few members of the New People's Army (NPA) left in our area because after a series of confrontations, some surrendered and were arrested," he added.
In a separate interview, 9ID Commander Maj. Gen. Aldwine Almase assured Bicolanos of the division's campaign to eradicate terrorism in the region.
"While we achieve success through collaboration with various agencies and the community, we urge those still affected by terrorist groups to come forward and join us in embracing peace.
The AFP has been uncovering weapons caches for years while the NPA continues to fight. The recovery of these weapons is by no means an indicator that they are suffering an "extreme shortage" of members.
The NTF-ELCAC's barangay fund has been under scrutiny. Some say the funds are a "reward for peace." The NTF-ELCAC denies that accusation.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2156371/ntf-elcac-denies-8-08b-barangay-funds-are-reward-for-peace-amid-church-criticism |
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) on Thursday pushed back against criticism from Catholic groups, denying claims that a proposed P8.08 billion allocation for conflict-affected barangays was a discretionary fund or a “reward for peace” tied to counterinsurgency efforts.
The task force said the amount refers to the Barangay Development Program (BDP), a multi-agency initiative implemented by regular government departments, not by the NTF-Elcac itself.
NTF-Elcac Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement that portraying the allocation as an “NTF-Elcac fund” was misleading. He emphasized that the task force does not handle or disburse the money and has no operational control over the projects.
The clarification followed concerns raised by Caritas Philippines and the Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace, which questioned whether the funds functioned as incentives for communities to support the government’s anti-insurgency campaign.
Torres said the barangay program is carried out by line agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health, and the Department of Education, among others.
He said the program was not a payoff but was intended to address long-standing shortages in basic services in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, including roads, schools, health facilities, water systems, and electrification.
“The BDP is not a prize handed out after compliance. It is a corrective intervention — belated state action to address historical exclusion and governance failure,” Torres said.
He added that projects are identified by barangays, endorsed by local development councils, and implemented by local governments and national agencies.
The P8.08 billion allocation, Torres said, is not a discretionary fund or political reward but part of broader government programs aimed at delivering basic services to long-neglected barangays.
Torres also addressed human rights concerns linked to counterinsurgency operations, saying violations were not government policy and should be investigated through existing accountability mechanisms.
He said rights discussions should also include abuses attributed to the communist movement led by the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front, including intimidation and killings of civilians.
He warned that framing development programs in former conflict areas as inherently coercive risks undermining efforts to reduce poverty and underdevelopment, which the government says fuel armed rebellion.
The NTF-Elcac said it remains open to dialogue with church groups and other critics, urging discussions grounded in the roles of implementing agencies and the experiences of beneficiary communities.
The problem with this answer is that it is only after areas are declared insurgency-free that these funds are opened up.
The Barangay Development Program is a hallmark program of the NTF-ELCAC with the end goal of bringing development to former conflict-prone communities, or those cleared from the influence of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army.
Under the program, each insurgency-cleared village is expected to receive funds for the construction of farm-to-market roads, classrooms, water and sanitation systems, health stations, and the implementation of livelihood projects.
The BDP is indeed a sort of rewards program.Development should not be a counterinsurgency program. Development should have been ongoing but it has not. That is why the Philippines is largely a backwards nation with some areas lacking roads, electricity, and running water.
The muslim insurgency is down to 50 members according to the AFP.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265377 |
Members of local terrorist groups (LTGs) in the country have dropped to just about 50 compared to 1,257 nine years ago, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Wednesday.
In a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla attributed the decline to "sustained security operations, peacebuilding efforts, and strong community engagement."
The AFP official also said 28 "high value individuals" (HVIs), including 10 "amirs" or LTG group leaders, were neutralized through armed encounters and security operations from 2016 to 2025, resulting in a significant improvement in the country's domestic security, particularly in Mindanao, where the LTGs are mostly based.
"Focused government operations have resulted in the neutralization, arrest, or surrender of key terrorist leaders, creating a leadership vacuum within the remaining LTGs," Padilla said.
"The loss of senior figures has weakened command structures and reduced the ability of these groups to plan, direct, and sustain operations."
LTGs refer to the Abu Sayyaf Group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Dawlah Islamiya, and Maute Terrorist Group.
Padilla said available indicators show a steady decline in LTG manpower, firearms, territorial influence, and violent incidents since 2016.
"Remaining groups are fragmented and largely defensive, with diminished operational reach and limited ability to regroup," she said.
Padilla also said there have been no recorded terrorist training activities, recruitment efforts, or large-scale attacks by domestic LTGs since 2016.
"This underscores the erosion of their operational capacity and the effectiveness of sustained security monitoring," she said.
Aside from focused government operations, programs for preventing and countering violent extremism continue to encourage peaceful surrender, reintegration, and community participation among LTG members, the AFP spokesperson said. The programs include localized peace initiatives, livelihood support, and cooperation with local leaders.
"Basilan is now free of ASG presence, while Jolo, Sulu, and other areas are experiencing renewed economic activity and tourism, reflecting increased public confidence and normalized daily life," Padilla said, highlighting the marked improvement in the security situation in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
She also said terrorism threat levels in several areas of Western and Central Mindanao have shifted from high to low.
"While global extremist networks continue to exploit cyberspace, there is no indication of imminent domestic terrorist threats at this time. Government forces remain vigilant and committed to sustaining peace, security, and development nationwide," Padilla said.
At the global level, Padilla said the AFP remains engaged in information-sharing and regular coordination with government and international partners to support early awareness and timely responses.
It's funny how this is supposed to mean there is no terrorism threat in Mindanao when the MILF, a terrorist organization, has been given control of the BARMM. It's literally a terrorist state within the Philippines!
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