The NPA remains armed and dangerous. The troops are in pursuit of a group fronted by a wanted NPA hitman in Negros Occidental.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1272411 |
Troops from the Philippine Army's 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) are pursuing remnants of the communist New People's Army (NPA) led by wanted hitman Roger Fabillar, following two clashes in Calatrava, Negros Occidental on Monday.
In a statement, the 79IB said the separate encounters took place between 8:35 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. at Sitio Proper, Barangay Minautok.
"This group is also responsible for the killings of innocent civilians in the villages of Escalante City. Pursuit operations are ongoing," it said.
Soldiers engaged about seven remnants of the dismantled NPA Northern Negros Front, who later withdrew toward different directions, the report said.
For three years now, the 79IB has been offering a PHP1 million cash reward to anyone who could provide information that would result in the arrest of Fabillar, who is facing a string of murder cases in northern Negros.
The bounty was raised by concerned stakeholders and private individuals who wanted to hasten the manhunt against Fabillar and his group.
Fabillar, who goes by the aliases “Arnel Tapang,” “Jhong,” and “Nono,” is believed to be in his 30s.
He was identified as the main suspect behind the series of killings in Calatrava, including village chief Benjamin Javoc of Barangay Lalong, and Renato Estrebillo and Rodel Nobleza of Barangay Marcelo over the past several years.
Fabillar was also linked to the death of councilman Benito Hubahib of Barangay Cambayobo.
For three years cash has been offered for information leading to his arrest and no one has stepped up. Why is that? Is he being protected? Either way Roger Fabillar is a leader which is a position the AFP claims does not exist.
During a clash that left one AFP solider dead a notebook was found which shed much light on the recent goings-on of the NPA.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/04/05/what-the-military-discovered-in-a-journal-found-after-deadly-npa-clash-in-occidental-mindoro |
A handwritten journal recovered after a deadly encounter between government troops and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) fighters in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro last week offered a rare and unfiltered look into the life inside the armed group, the military said.
In a statement late Saturday, April 4, the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) said the notebook, believed to belong to Charlize Cameron “Ka Kaye” Garzon, an alleged rebel captured by the troops, was among items seized by the troops during the March 29 encounter in Sitio Salafay, Barangay Monteclaro.
The encounter killed Captain Dean Buen Oyando and wounded two other soldiers.
“The entries recovered from the encounter site provide a clearer picture of involvement within the organization. The writings describe operational procedures, experiences within the group, and even ideological reflections, which strongly contradict attempts to portray them as just someone merely observing or conducting cultural work,” said 2ID spokesperson Colonel Michael Aquino.
According to the military, the journal contained detailed notes on the NPA’s structure and also outlined internal roles and functions within the group.
The entries described tactics and procedures as well as instructions on how to maneuver during operations and what to do during armed encounters or in case of arrest, it added.
One directive stood out and it was that members were told to deny involvement if captured, the military noted.
Interwoven with the notes were personal accounts of daily life in the mountains. Garzon allegedly wrote about meals and routine activities, and described the first time she supposedly carried a rifle, where she also expressed fear of combat.
Some entries reflected exhaustion, and Garzon also allegedly wrote about missing city comforts. One note mentioned wanting to leave the mountains after long periods without a proper bath.
The journal also documented a March 24 encounter in Sitio Danlog, Barangay Monteclaro, also in San Jose town, where the entry read: “No march or rally can prepare you for trekking in the mountains,” the military detailed.
Further, the military said that the writings appeared to reflect the process of recruiting members of the armed struggle from various sectors, including the youth.
In one passage, Garzon allegedly assessed the weaknesses in their activities: “We need to raise our revolutionary initiative.”
The notebook also contained sketches, including drawings of personal belongings and maps of temporary camps. The maps showed sleeping quarters, kitchen areas, and other sections. They illustrated how units moved and set up makeshift encampments.
Aquino said the materials provide insight into how new members are absorbed into the movement.
“The details contained in the notebook reflect aspects of life and activities within the armed group that are difficult to dispute. These materials speak for themselves,” he stated.
Garzon was captured a few meters from where Oyando fell and she now faces a murder charge in connection with the incident.
Despite the circumstances, troops provided her first aid at the scene and she was later brought in for medical treatment while under government custody.
Aside from the journal, recovered from the encounter site were an M16 rifle, a hand grenade, improvised explosive device (IED) components, and other personal belongings of Garzon.
Meanwhile, the mother of Garzon called out the military for releasing her photos during a recent visit.
In a social media post, Mayi Garzon accused the troops of violating the Data Privacy Act when the 203rd Infantry Brigade and 2ID released her daughter’s photos showing she was being subjected to a psychological examination, reading a Bible, and interacting with the troops.
“On the first page of my logbook, I highlighted Republic Act 10173, also known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012, so I know it very well!!,” a post on her Facebook account read.
The Manila Bulletin reached out to the Garzon matriarch about the journal supposedly owned by her daughter, and will publish her side once available.
Garzon’s family and friends also denied she was a rebel and insisted she was a “cultural worker” and an activist.
Earlier, human rights group Karapatan demanded Garzon’s release from the custody of the military, saying her arrest was “illegal.” But the 2ID said Garzon was a primary suspect in the death of Captain Oyando and wounding of two other troopers.
That is a very interesting find which seems to contradict everything the APF has been saying. Namely the NPA is very active, continues to be able to recruit, and has leadership. The NPA is not a spent force nor have they been defeated.
This same encounter revealed handwritten notes which showed the NPA's plans to integrate foreigners. This is from the diary of Cristina Paison, a Fil-Am.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/04/08/npa-eyeing-foreign-fighters-says-military |
The military disclosed that the New People’s Army (NPA) plans to integrate foreign recruits into their ranks, handwritten notes found during the March 29 encounter in Barangay Monteclaro, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro said.
The Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command said these were recovered by troops from the 2nd Infantry Division. They appeared to be diary-style entries written in fluent English, with timestamps beginning as early as March 11, and documented the daily experiences of a person staying with the communist rebels.
A checklist of items needed for movement in rugged terrain was listed. One entry mentioned a plan after the writer’s stay in the mountains, including “explore alternative routes around Taft.”
Some passages were reflections about life in the armed movement. One entry said: “In the countryside, you aren’t nearly bossed down ideologically. The forces of imperialism are weaker in a sense. Everyone’s clear-sighted, clear-minded. The objective is right there: To triumph over the enemy.”
The entries were written in conversational English, suggesting the writer may have been accustomed to using the language in daily communication, the military said.
Chantal Anicoche, a Filipino-American who was rescued by troops days after a gun battle on Jan. 1 in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, disclosed that she traveled to Mindoro together with another Filipino-American, Cristina Pasion.
Anicoche said that they remained together in Mindoro until they were separated after the encounter.
Pasion was expected to return to the United States on March 14 but did not appear for her departure at the airport.
The Buklod Kapayapaan Federation, a national organization composed of former rebels and peace advocates, identified Pasion as among the individuals involved in the encounter.
Capt. Dean Buen Oyando was killed and two soldiers were wounded in the March 29 gunfight.
An NPA amazon, Charleze Garzon, was found near the body of Oyando. She was taken into government custody. Garzon is facing a murder charge.
It's not clear from these released passages that Paison is anything more than an observer as Chantal Anicoche. It is also not clear how she hooked up with this group. The Army claims she is distressed and has demanded the NPA release her.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1272564 |
The Philippine Army's 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) on Wednesday called on the New People's Army (NPA) to immediately free Filipino-American citizen Cristina Pasion, who is believed to be with the insurgents in Occidental Mindoro.
2ID public affairs office chief Col. Michael Aquino made the appeal to the rebel group after soldiers recovered handwritten notes believed to be written by Pasion, which show signs of emotional distress.
“The writings, believed to have been authored by her, raise serious concerns about her well-being, and we hope that those currently with her will recognize that no cause should come at the cost of a person’s life and mental health,” he added.
Aquino emphasized that the appeal is based on humanitarian concern.
“If she wishes to leave the armed movement and return home, she should be allowed to do so. Everyone deserves the opportunity to step away from conflict and rebuild their life,” he added.
Aquino also reiterated the 2ID's call for the remaining members of the armed group to abandon the path of violence.
“The 2nd Infantry Division reiterates its call for the few remaining NPA members to lay down their arms and surrender to the fold of the law, where they can rebuild their lives anew with their families,” he added.
He also called on Pasion's family to help encourage her return to the United States and move forward with her life.
Government forces recovered the handwritten notes shortly after the March 29 clash with NPA members in Barangay Monteclaro, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
The encounter resulted in the death of Army officer Capt. Dean Buen Oyando and the wounding of two other soldiers.
After the incident, Charlize Garzon was found a few meters from the lifeless body of Oyando and was subsequently taken into custody. Garzon is now facing a murder charge and two counts of homicide in connection with the incident.
Among the materials previously recovered from the area were notebooks and other personal writings believed to have been left behind by fleeing members of the armed group during the incident.
"Among the diary-style entries were notes written in fluent English describing personal experiences while staying in the mountains. One of these entries is believed to have been written by Cristina Pasion, based on the conversational tone of the notes and information from individuals who were previously with her," the 2ID said.
In the entry, the writer stated, “I feel like everyone is playing mind games. There is this urge to leave everything behind and start from scratch. Begin with a clean slate. No more complicated bull****.”
Another line in the same set of notes reads, “Everything is time sensitive. Please f****** kill me right now.”
The 2ID expressed concern that the tone of the entries suggests that the author may be experiencing significant emotional strain while staying with the armed group.
Available information also indicates that Pasion, who has been identified as a member of Migrante International, was seen together with Filipino-American Chantal Anicoche before their trip to Mindoro.
Reports further indicate that the two were together during their stay on the island until they were separated during the Jan. 1 incident in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, where government troops clashed with NPA members.
Further information indicates that Pasion was expected to return to the United States on March 14, but failed to appear for her scheduled departure at the airport.
If these girls and others are being recruited through groups in the USA then the Philippines State Department should be working with the US State Department to root them out and dismantle them.
Despite claiming the NPA is leaderless and unable to recruit the NTF-ELCAC is instructing the public to reject communism and recruitment into the CPP-NPA.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1272019 |
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Sunday urged Filipinos to reject recruitment calls of the New People's Army (NPA) and shun their continued acts of violence.
NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., in a statement, said there is nothing worth celebrating in a movement built on decades of violence and deception, as the insurgent group observes its 57th founding anniversary.
“For 57 years, what has been offered is not liberation, but bloodshed -- violence disguised as ideology and a struggle that has only deepened poverty and suffering,” he added.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), was established on March 29, 1969 by CPP founder Jose Maria Sison and former members of the Hukbalahap (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon or People's Army Against Japan), led by Bernabe Buscayno.
“There is nothing to celebrate in a movement that thrives on fear and exploits the very people it claims to serve,” he said.
Torres said the legacy of the insurgency is written not in victories, but in lost lives, broken families and communities held hostage by intimidation and false promises.
Torres said there is ongoing "decisive and irreversible shift on the ground" against the NPA remnants as former rebels lay down their arms and reconnect with their families.
“Across the country, from the farthest barangays to our urban centers, Filipinos are choosing peace -- freely, consciously, and in growing numbers,” he added.
Data from the National Amnesty Commission show 16,003 applications, far exceeding the initial projection of 10,000.
Of these, 13,633 were actual combatants and supporters of the armed struggle under the CPP-NPA-National Democratic Front.
Their applications were received before the March 13 deadline. Torres said such developments are not isolated gains but “clear, measurable signs” that the decades-long insurgency is nearing its end.
“This is no longer just a security campaign. This is a whole-of-nation movement anchored on truth, justice, and genuine opportunity,” he added.
However, he urged Filipinos not to be complacent as the threat has evolved, shifting from the battlefield to more insidious forms of recruitment, particularly among the youth.
“For decades, recruitment has not begun with armed struggle, but with manipulation -- through misinformation, emotional coercion and the systematic erosion of critical thinking. These are the hallmarks of terrorist grooming,” he said.
He does not say what these "more insidious forms of recruitment" which makes this warning useless.
