Insurgency: Loudspeaker Ops

The war against the NPA continues. After a clash in Northern Mindanao firearms and other material were recovered. 

https://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/troops-recover-firearms-after-clash-with-communist-rebels-in-northern-mindanao-caraga/

TROOPS from the 36th Infantry Battalion exchanged fire with Communist Terrorist Group members in Barangay Cayale, Tago, Surigao del Sur, on Jan. 10, leading to the recovery of an M14 rifle, an M16 bolt carrier assembly, a rifle grenade, medical supplies, and various war materiel. 

The 4TH Infantry Division (4ID) report touted the military gains by degrading the guerrillas’ operational capabilities in the province.

Simultaneously, the 403rd Infantry Brigade facilitated the surrender of two former CTG members previously affiliated with the dismantled HQ Loader and GF89 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

The surrenderers turned over an AK-47 rifle and are currently undergoing custodial debriefing and documentation to qualify for the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

In a joint statement, 403rd IB commander Brigadier General Seigfred C. Tubalado and 401st IB acting commander Colonel Glenn Joy U. Aynera praised their troops for their professionalism and discipline.

“These operational gains and voluntary surrenders reflect the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations and the strong support of local communities,” the statement said. 

They reiterated their call for the remaining insurgents to lay down their arms and participate in the government’s reintegration programs, emphasizing a continued commitment to sustaining peace and development in their areas of responsibility.

This happened in Surigao del Sur. The Army says they will be using loudspeakers to counter the influence of the NPA in the province. 

https://manilastandard.net/news/314691145/army-loudspeaker-ops-to-counter-npa-influence-in-surigao-sur.html

The Philippine Army said its recent use of loudspeakers mounted on military vehicles in parts of Surigao del Sur is part of a broader information campaign to counter misinformation and encourage communities to withdraw support for the New People’s Army (NPA).

Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala told Manila Standard the activity was intended to directly reach residents in remote areas with what the Army described as “truthful information,” amid continued efforts by communist terrorist groups to influence local communities.

Dema-ala said the initiative forms part of the Army’s ongoing drive to raise awareness about what it called the “real evils” of the NPA, including alleged deceptive recruitment tactics and the group’s impact on peace, security, and development in affected areas.

He said the Army believes that providing information to communities helps residents make informed choices and take an active role in promoting stability and progress in their localities.

“By informing the people, we empower communities to make informed decisions and actively participate in sustaining peace and progress in their areas,” he added.

It's not clear what the loudspeakers will say. Perhaps "surrender?"

The clash in Mindoro contineus to elicit respones. Claims that the civilians were killed are fabricated according to the government. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266978

Claims that civilians, including children of the Iraya Mangyan tribe, were killed during the series of encounters between government troops and New People's Army (NPA) remnants on New Year's Day are a fabrication, the spokesperson of the 2nd Infantry Infantry Division (2ID) said on Wednesday.

Col. Michael Aquino, in a statement forwarded to reporters, said these fabricated claims deliberately ignore verified accounts from the ground and the voices of local communities themselves.

“These are serious accusations, yet they have not presented a single name, family, or community to support their claims. In contrast, local government officials, sitio leaders, and indigenous youth organizations in Abra de Ilog have spoken clearly and consistently — there were no civilian casualties," he added.

The official made this comment after noting that NPA supporters continue to parrot that two students and three Iraya Mangyan children were killed in the Jan. 1 military operations.

Aquino also said that these false narratives "mislead the public and disrespect the very communities they pretend to defend.'

The 2ID spokesperson also stressed that fabricating or exaggerating incidents undermines public trust and sows unnecessary fear among residents who are striving to preserve peace in their communities.

"The 2nd ID reiterated that the Jan. 1 operations were conducted in response to reports from residents themselves and were carried out with strict adherence to the protection of civilians," Aquino said.

The Army said only one NPA member was killed in the series of clashes.

Just because names have not been given does not mean the NPA is lying. They might not know the names. Of course they could be lying. 

The mother of an NPA rebel slain the clash who was  a student wants to sue a member of Congress. 

https://smninewschannel.com/mother-of-slain-youth-in-occidental-mindoro-seeks-justice-rep-renee-co-should-be-held-liable/

The mother of the late Jerlyn Doydora insisted that Kabataan Party-list Representative Renee Co should be held accountable for her daughter’s death in Occidental Mindoro, as a former CPP–NPA–NDF cadre warned of the alleged continuing recruitment of young people in schools.

“You, Renee Co! You are the leader of that shameless Kabataan Party-list! You should be held accountable because she was with you in the pictures—shame on you!” Merlinda Doydora, Mother of Jerlyn Doydora said.

Anger poured out from Merlinda Doydora toward Kabataan Party-list Representative Renee Co following the death of her daughter Jerlyn Doydora during an encounter between government troops and rebels in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro on January 1, 2026.

After the recent elections, Renee Co replaced former Kabataan Party-list Representative Raoul Manuel, who has repeatedly been named by former members and former CPP–NPA–NDF cadres as allegedly recruiting youth to join the New People’s Army (NPA).

In a Facebook post, Kabataan Party-list admitted that Jerlyn was a member of their organization, serving as part of the general secretariat. Photos also show Jerlyn together with Renee Co during rallies organized by Kabataan Party-list.

Merlinda earlier said that their family was unaware that their daughter had joined Kabataan Party-list, making her loss even harder to accept.

“I apologize if I said hurtful words, but what you did to Jerlyn is extremely painful for our whole family,’’ Merlinda Doydora, Mother of Jerlyn Doydora added.

For former rebel cadre Jeffrey “Ka-Eric” Celiz, the alleged recruitment pattern of rebel fronts is alarming, as it is reportedly carried out in schools, victimizing innocent youth.

“This pattern and indication are alarming because, I think, in the last two years on record, more than twenty young people were either captured or killed in encounters. They were recruited from schools and universities—not only in Manila but also in regions around the Philippines,’’ Jeffrey “Ka-Eric” Celiz, Former NPA Cadre said.

Celiz further alleged that the Makabayan bloc in Congress funds and recruits youth to become members of the NPA.

“They are not only recruiting; they are also funding it. This comes from my direct knowledge. I was part of the CPP–NPA–NDF for 20 years and 8 months. I know that the so-called Makabayan bloc was formed by the Communist Party, run and led by members and leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and that the Communist Party funds and operates the NPA,’’ Jeffrey “Ka-Eric” Celiz, Former NPA Cadre stated.

Regarding the family’s plan to file charges against Kabataan Party-list, Celiz said this should be supported by the government, alleging that the group’s actions constitute human trafficking and terrorism.

“That is very timely. I hope they will not be afraid and that the government’s legal team will support them, because that is correct. It can be part of a human trafficking case connected to terrorism,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, Toto Marquez, representative of KADRE MIMAROPA, said that naming groups and individuals allegedly involved in illegal recruitment, human trafficking, and terrorism—where youth and grieving mothers are the victims—does not constitute red-tagging.

“Don’t you feel sorry for the parents? For the youth? You say this is red-tagging?! How is this red-tagging? Kabataan Party-list and Karapatan Southern Tagalog do nothing but lie. Is this red-tagging when parents are crying and struggling?” Toto Marquez, Representative, KADRE MIMAROPA said.

In the end, Merlinda hopes that with the arrest of Filipino-American activist Chantal Anicoche, the circumstances surrounding her daughter’s death will finally be clarified.

“For me, I hope she cooperates and tells the truth, and that she can explain everything that really happened. I hope she does not lie,’’ Merlinda Doydora, Mother of Jerlyn Doydora said.

We are still not told which school she was recruited from. Was it a college? Was it a high school? Those facts would help in targeting recruiters. 

The NTF-ELCAC is calling for sobriety regarding the Fil-Am rescued after the operation. They say don't jump to conclusions especially that she is being detained by the AFP.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266927

A ranking National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) official has urged the public to approach the case of Fil-American Chantal Anicoche, who was rescued by Army troopers in Occidental Mindoro last Jan. 8, with sobriety, restraint, and a clear sense of responsibility.

"This is not a matter for spectacle or online trial. This is about the safety of a young person, the integrity of our legal process, and the accountability of those who place young people like her in harm’s way," NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement Tuesday.

He said what is important is that Anicoche is safe, alive, safe, and receiving appropriate medical attention.

Torres said all government actions taken in Anicoche's behalf have been guided by existing laws, established protocols, and the duty of the State to protect life and dignity.

He added concerned government agencies are coordinating as required and due process safeguards are in place.

"We are aware of competing claims circulating online, including misinformed assertions about 'detention.' Facts will be established through documentation and verification, not through pressure, unfounded rumors, or performative outrage," the NTF-ELCAC official said.

Anicoche was reported missing following the clash between government troops and New People's Army (NPA) remnants in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro last Jan. 1. In the same Jan. 1 clash, a female student turned NPA was killed in the encounter with government forces.

Torres said what concerns the NTF-ELCAC the most is how young people like Anicoche, Jerlyn Doydora, and Stephanie Borinaga are funneled into conflict-affected areas where armed encounters inevitably occur.

"Who facilitated access, movement, lodging, and 'immersions'? Who normalized exposure to lethal risk under the language of advocacy or solidarity? These are legitimate questions that any responsible government must ask, precisely because young lives are at stake... Those who recruit, groom, facilitate, and enable entry into conflict zones must answer for the risks they impose on young people," he added.

Torres said for decades, recruitment and facilitation networks linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front have relied on "narratives that romanticize armed struggle while downplaying its human cost."

He said the task force remains committed to uphold human rights, due process, and transparency, including access to legal counsel, medical and psychosocial safeguards, and coordination with appropriate authorities.

"Misinformation does not protect youth, as it only obscures accountability. Genuine concern for young people demands honesty about how recruitment and facilitation operate, and the courage to confront those practices rather than deflect blame onto institutions performing their constitutional mandate," he added.

Meanwhile former rebels are claiming she was a rebel recruited from the USA.

https://smninewschannel.com/recruitment-ng-cpp-npa-sa-kabataan-sa-amerika-nagpapatuloy-former-rebel/

On January 1, an encounter took place between communist rebel groups and soldiers in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, where Jerlyn Rose Doydora was killed and Fil-Am activist Chantal Anicoche was captured, who is currently in military custody.

According to Arian Jane Ramos, a former CPP-NPA-NDF cadre, the captured Fil-Am Anicoche underwent the ongoing CPP-NPA-NDF program in the United States called the adopt a region program.

“The CPP-NPA is implementing an adopt a region program. In this program, there are foreign nationals Filipino Americans from various states in the U.S. as partido. They previously organized what is called adopt a region and they still continue to do this,” said Arian Jane Ramos, Head of Legal Affairs, Buklod Kapayapaan Federation Inc.

Some of the jobs that members of the group are required to do are propaganda work, fund raising, exposure missions and direct revolutionary integration, where Anicoche was included in the program.

“If we say revolutionary integration, this is what you go to the mountains to live in communities, you ask questions, what is called social class investigation analysis, ah social investigation and class analysis (SICA) that activists are talking about today,” Ramos added.

He added that this is what newly recruited students are usually asked to do when they go up to the mountains or to remote areas where indigenous people and farmers live with NPA rebels.

“You cannot join the NPA if you do not have connections to the NPA; the New People’s Army does not just accept you if you are not a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines or a member of the underground mass organization of the CPP-NPA-NDF,” he added.

If there are NPA recruitment programs in the USA and other countries that is a problem. That is something which needs to be worked out between the Philippines and the USA. Will it? Is it? The AFP has not publicly acknowledged the existence of this program yet. 

Insurgency: Hero Narrative

The numbers for 2025 are in! 2,018 NPA rebels and supporters were neutralized last year. Let's see how it breaks down. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266260

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said its units have successfully neutralized 2,018 New People's Army (NPA) and its supporters from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025.

In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said of the 2,018 communist insurgents and followers neutralized, 1,798 have surrendered, 93 were arrested, and 127 killed in various military operations nationwide.

"A total of 1,134 firearms and 531 anti-personnel mines were either seized or surrendered (during this period)," she added.

Padilla also said a total of 149 NPA encampments were also captured from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of last year.

Earlier, a ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said they have received reports citing only 780 New People's NPA are left all over the country.

NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., in a media briefing to observe the Dec. 4 7th founding anniversary of the anti-communist body, said this number is relatively small as the communist insurgents numbered about 25,000 at their peak in the 1980s.

"A recent report that we have received (indicate that) there are only 780 NPAs all over the country. That's relatively small because at their peak, they numbered to about 25,000," he added. 

Oh, look at that. The numbers are not broken down so they are worthless. The last estimated number of remaining NPA rebels is 780. Before that it was around 1,000. So that means only 220 actual rebels were neutralized while the rest were supporters.  That means the NPA has a large support base contrary to what the AFP claims. 

The government says the NPA is going online to disseminate propaganda in a desperate push to drum up support. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2162930/govt-warns-of-red-propaganda-drive

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) has warned the public against what it described as a “deliberate” and “synchronized” social media propaganda drive by the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front and allied groups.

NTF-Elcac Executive Director Ernesto Torres Jr. said dozens of interlinked pages have been pushing identical narratives, slogans, hashtags, visuals and calls for action—signs, he said, of central direction rather than spontaneous activism.

“This is neither coincidence nor spontaneity. This is central direction from the party,” Torres said in a statement on Saturday.

“The timing, language, framing, and cadence of these posts portray a party-imposed propaganda line—a textbook maneuver by a movement in decline attempting to manufacture an illusion of relevance and strength in the digital space.”

Torres said the content recycles calls for “armed struggle,” “revolutionary movement” and “lightning rallies,” targeting students, urban poor communities and other vulnerable sectors as the group shifts to online platforms amid waning support on the ground.

“The truth is unmistakable: this is the behavior of an organization gasping for its last breath,” he said.

“Unable to rebuild support through armed formations that are now fragmented, isolated, and rejected by communities, they have resorted to flooding social-media platforms with rage-bait, distortion, and incitement.”

Torres said the campaign aims to stir anger, normalize violence as “activism” and groom a new generation, but noted that public reaction has turned against the groups.

Ok, it's a propaganda drive on social media.  Which accounts?  Why don't they name the accounts?  This is very frustrating to be told watch out for dangerous propaganda and not be told where it's originating. 

The NTF-ELCAC says a recent clash with the NPA shows how they are grooming students to fight. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266289

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Tuesday said the series of encounters in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro on New Year’s Day has revealed the New People's Army’s (NPA) terror grooming operations that had insurgents pulling young Filipinos away from school, family, and civilian life, and leading them toward violence and, in some tragic cases, even death.

NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., in a statement, added that this incident has shown how terror-grooming works as terror grooming recruiters exploit the vulnerability, idealism, and grievances of their intended youth targets and feed them romanticized narratives of struggle while concealing the realities of fear, deprivation, and lethal encounters.

“This is how young people are led down a path that ends in violence and loss. What happened in Abra de Ilog shows the real, human cost of that deception," he said.

Torres also claimed that the Jan. 1 clashes in Sitio Mamara, Barangay Cabacao did not occur in a vacuum.

Authorities acted after residents reported intimidation, extortion, and abuses linked to armed NPA elements—conditions that communities had endured for years before finally speaking up.

In the Abra de Ilog clash, a female student turned NPA member was killed during an encounter with government troops.

"Based on information and verification received by authorities on the ground, she had already been drawn into the NPA. This does not lessen the tragedy—it defines it. It is a tragedy of radicalization and recruitment, where a young life is taken from civilian pathways and brought into armed violence," Torres said.

“Communities that lived in fear are now asking the government for protection. That context matters."

Torres also called on parents, educators, faith-based groups, local governments, and civil society to treat the Abra de Ilog incident as a national warning and to work together to prevent further communist recruitment activities.

“Protecting the youth means exposing terror-grooming early, encouraging those deceived into armed groups to return home, and supporting peaceful, lawful pathways to address grievances—without sacrificing our children to violence,” he added. 

Oh wow.  A singular female student means they have a huge grooming network. This same student, likely the same student, is not a hero according her family. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266439

One of the partner organizations of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Thursday said the family of the slain female New People's Army (NPA) during the Jan. 1 clash in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro rejected attempts by groups supporting the insurgents to portray her as a hero and instead asserted that she was a victim of deception, manipulation, and terror-grooming.

This was conveyed by Hands Off Our Children Movement (HOOCM) Inc. National Secretary Anabelle Sabado who added that the family also expressed alarm over the systematic exploitation of the victim's death by leftist groups.

While the family is grieving, Sabado said they were also angry at what happened to their daughter.

"She was not a revolutionary hero. She was a victim —of manipulation, deceit, and ideological grooming. They demand that these groups stop exploiting her memory,” she said.

Fearing further exploitation, the HOOCM official said the family made the painful decision to have their daughter's remains hastily cremated.

In what they described as a final act of protection and closure, her ashes were later scattered at sea —specifically to prevent any further attempts to politicize or exploit her remains.

Sabado revealed that the family was completely unaware that their daughter had already been designated as general secretary of the Kabataan Party-list —a fact they only learned after her death.

This disclosure, she said, compounded the family’s shock and grief.

Sabado said the victim's radicalization happened with alarming speed. She was reportedly seen attending a rally in September, and by December, she was already in the hinterlands.

The family described this rapid descent as wholly inconsistent with who their daughter was —a devout churchgoer, a kind and gentle person, and a student of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

The family also condemned what they described as intrusive and predatory efforts to extract information, photos, and personal details about their daughter — including an incident involving individuals allegedly posing as medical mission volunteers.

These acts, the family said, were deeply disrespectful and crossed moral boundaries. Sabado said the family is currently preparing an official statement to fully express their side. 

It would help to know more about this person such as her age and what school she attended. But the AFP is short on providing details. Was she "groomed" in college?" What exactly was her path from student to revolutionary? 

A Fil-Am woman was rescued by the AFP after getting caught up in this very same clash. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266540

The Philippine Army (PA) on Friday lauded the 203rd Infantry Brigade which rescued Thursday afternoon a 24-year-old Filipino-American woman reported missing following the clash between government troops and New People's Army (NPA) remnants in Occidental Mindoro on Jan. 1.

"The PA commends our troops for rescuing 24-year-old Chantal Anicoche who was found hiding in a hole near the encounter site at Sitio Mamara, Barangay Cabacao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro on Jan. 8," Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said in a statement.

He said Anicoche's rescue exposes the lies peddled by the communist terrorists and their mouthpieces, who accuse government troops of violating International Law in their legitimate missions.

"Her case clearly unmasks the CTG’s (communist terrorist group) way of exploiting and endangering young people through their deceptive recruitment tactics," Dema-ala said.

In the same clash, a female student-turned NPA rebel was killed.

Militant groups earlier claimed that Anicoche, a graduate of BS Psychology from the University of Maryland, and the fatality were in the hinterlands conducting research among farmers and indigenous people in the area.

Army troopers later transported Anicoche from the mountains to Abra de Ilog, where she was checked by municipal health workers.

Anicoche did not sustain any injuries, except for insect bites.

"Rest assured that we stand committed to neutralizing security threats and ensuring the protection of civilians, regardless of their circumstances," Dema-ala said.

This lady wasn't being groomed our recruited. She was conducting research. Best for all to stay away from those far-flung areas of the Philippines. 

Insurgency: Admit Failure And Defeat

The NTF-ELCAC says its time for the CPP and allies groups to admit failure and defeat. Not only have they not delivered on their promises but their whole paradigm is an ancient relic from the Cold War. The world has moved on.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265938

Despite its decades-long existence, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), together with its allied groups, has failed in its mission to establish a communist state in the Philippines supposedly focused on the needs of the masses, a government task force official said Monday.

"After 57 years of bloodshed, the CPP, including its armed wing, NPA, and legal shield, NDF should finally do what it has stubbornly refused to do for more than half a century: admit failure and defeat," Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., executive director of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), said in a statement.

NPA refers to the New People's Army, while the NDF stands for the National Democratic Front.

The CPP was formally established on Dec. 26, 1968 by Jose Maria "Joma" Sison, who died in exile in the Netherlands in December 2022.

Torres said the CPP's "violent strategy" to seize political power has collapsed under the weight of its own failures.

"None — not a single one — of the grand promises made to the first generations of cadres ever came true," he said.

"What the movement did achieve is grim and undeniable: it sent tens of thousands of Filipinos — mostly poor, rural, and indigenous — into early graves."

Torres described the CPP as an organization "frozen in time — an ancient relic trapped in the vacuum of a Cold War that ended decades ago."

"Its language, enemies, and slogans belong to a world that no longer exists," he said. "What it parades today as strength is little more than rhetoric about a phantom army, punctuated by sporadic acts of terror that wreak havoc while accelerating its own decimation."

The NTF-ELCAC has pegged the number of NPA rebels to about 780, down from the estimated 25,000 during the group's peak in the 1980s.

Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the Marcos administration is committed to improving the lives of former rebels who willingly choose the path to peace.

Under the peace agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., former communist insurgents can avail of the national government’s socio-economic projects, as well as its amnesty program to address their legal concerns, enabling them to complete their transformative journey and successfully return to mainstream society.

In 2023, Marcos issued Proclamation 404, granting amnesty to former CPP, NPA and NDF members who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and Special Penal laws in furtherance of their political beliefs, among other offenses.

Perhaps the CPP would point to North Korea, China, Cuba, Vietnam, and Laos as fully functioning communist countries. China is even more advanced than the Philippines in terms of infrastrucutre. The Philippine government reduced good governance and road building to a counterinsurgency program. The truth is both the CPP and the Philippine government have failed to deliver their promises. 

The NTF-ELCAC also says the NPA has no legitimate mass support. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266014

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Wednesday refuted claims made by the New People's Army (NPA) that it still enjoys support from communities.

In a statement, NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said NPA rebels would not be hiding and extorting from civilian communities if they still enjoy genuine mass support.

Torres issued the statement in response to claims made by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) that communities "do not welcome NPA only because of military force."

According to Torres, such claim "ignores a simple reality that if the NPA still enjoyed genuine mass support, it would not need to hide, extort, or punish civilians to survive."

He added that the presence of AFP units in former conflict areas is not evidence of NPA strength but merely the State exercising its responsibility to protect communities from residual violence and coercion coming from the remnants of the communist insurgents.

Torres also blasted the CPP for labelling former members and witnesses as "traitors."

"This ad hominem attack does not invalidate the sworn testimonies, judicial findings, and community accounts," he said. "These Filipinos did not leave the CPP’s tyranny because they were coerced; they left because they saw, from the inside, the moral, political, and strategic bankruptcy of the CPP-NPA armed violence." 

If that is the case then how is it thousands of mass supporters continue to surrender? 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1264830

Close to 2,000 New People's Army (NPA) rebels and their sympathizers have been neutralized since the start of the year until Dec. 4, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported on Tuesday.

Of the 1,928 total number of neutralized communist rebels and supporters, 1,729 have surrendered to authorities, 93 were arrested and 106 were killed in combat operations, the military said.

Those numbers are not broken down but there is now way the majority of those surrenders are actual rebels and not supporters. How many more mass supporters are out there?

The NTF-ELCAC says they remain committed to sustain peace gains in 2026. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266077

A ranking official of the National Task Force to End Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Friday reiterated the body's commitment to sustaining the government's peace gains and preventing the resurgence of communist armed violence.

In a statement, NTF-ELCAC Executive Director, Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., said that preserving and maintaining peace is a "daily responsibility" of all Filipinos.

“Lasting peace and genuine development are possible, but they are never automatic,” he said.

While noting the tangible gains of the anti-insurgency body, Torres said complacency has no place in the work ahead.

"Peace must be defended, strengthened, and renewed every day," he said.

The NTF-ELCAC's mandate, he said, remains firmly rooted in addressing the roots of conflict through good governance, inclusive development, and protection of communities from deception and violence.

Its work is not about suppressing dissent or narrowing democratic space, but about safeguarding democracy itself by clearly distinguishing legitimate criticism from the exploitation of grievances to justify armed violence, Torres added.

This distinction, he said, has become even more crucial as groups linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front continue to test democratic boundaries, particularly in schools, sectoral organizations, and electoral spaces.

“Democracy thrives on debate, but it cannot tolerate the grooming of the youth, the manipulation of communities, or the normalization of terror under political language,” Torres said.

The NTF-ELCAC official also underscored the central role of former rebels and conflict-affected communities, describing them not as passive recipients of policy but as active partners in peacebuilding.

He said the decision of thousands of former combatants to abandon armed struggle and help rebuild their communities stands as one of the strongest repudiations of violence in recent Philippine history.

“Reintegration, amnesty, and community development are not acts of charity. They are investments in a future where no Filipino is forced to choose between ideology and survival,” he further said.

He noted that protecting the youth and other vulnerable sectors remains a key priority in 2026, emphasizing that schools must remain sanctuaries of learning rather than recruitment grounds, and that activism should build rather than destroy.

“Democracy is strengthened when truth is spoken plainly. The future belongs not to those who glorify violence, but to those who choose the harder work of building," Torres said.

"The NTF-ELCAC's mandate, he said, remains firmly rooted in addressing the roots of conflict through good governance, inclusive development, and protection of communities from deception and violence." The only  people who can address the subject of good governance are the politicians and bureaucrats who govern the nation. Can the NTF-ELCAC really stamp out corruption? Of course not. All they can do is determine which areas receive funds to building roads. 

The Army and PNP recovered an arms cache in Masbate.   

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266001

Soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division (9ID) of the Philippine Army, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, seized a cache of New People’s Army (NPA) explosives in Barangay Libas, Placer, Masbate on Tuesday.  

In an information released by the 9ID, government troops were acting on information from local residents, uncovered an NPA arms cache containing 42 anti-personnel mines, and 119 improvised hand grenades.  

In a statement, Maj. Gen. Aldwine Almase, commander of the 9th Infantry Division said the development underscores that there are no longer safe places for terrorist groups, as even their former supporters are now providing information to authorities if not their whereabouts, the whereabouts of their arms cache.  

“The use, stockpiling, and emplacement of anti-personnel mines constitute a clear violation of International Humanitarian Law, particularly the principles of distinction and civilian protection. These indiscriminate weapons pose a grave threat to noncombatants and civilian communities,” he said.

The discovery recalls the NPA’s act of terrorism through the indiscriminate use of explosives in Masbate, which then led to the death of football player Kieth Absalon and his cousin, Nolven Absalon, following a roadside blast last June 6, 2021.  

The incident underscored the lethal impact of prohibited weapons on innocent civilians.  

Almase thanked the Masbateños for their continued cooperation to totally eliminate terrorism brought by the NPAs in the province.  

“We thank the Masbateños for their continued cooperation and support in order to completely suppress the insurgency in Masbate. To the remaining regular NPA, People's Militia (MB), and CTG supporters, let us not wait for a repeat of the violence that befell Keith Absalon due to explosives or APMs whose manufacture and use are clearly illegal. To prevent the continued toll on Filipino lives caused by more than five decades of futile armed struggle, your soldiers here in the Bicol Region wish you your conversion and return to normal life. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of us,” Almase added.

He said investigation and clearing operations continue to ensure public safety and to prevent further threats to the community. 

That is 42 landmines which won't blow anyone up. 

In Occidental Mindoro the Army clashed with the NPA.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2161775/army-troops-clash-with-communist-rebels-in-occidental-mindoro

Government troops clashed with suspected communist rebels on Thursday morning in Barangay Cabacao, Abra de Ilog town, Occidental Mindoro, the Philippine Army said.

In an initial statement released at 11 a.m., the 203rd Infantry “Bantay Kapayapaan” Brigade reported that soldiers from the 76th Infantry Battalion (Victrix), under the 2nd Infantry Division, encountered members of a Communist Terrorist Group in Sitio Mamara while conducting security operations in the area.

Authorities said information on casualties, damage, and the duration of the encounter has yet to be determined.

The CPP-NPA says they were observing a ceasefire and the AFP broke it. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/684351/we-are-observing-ceasefire-cpp-disputes-afp-report-on-mindoro-clash

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported a clash with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members on Thursday in Sitio Mamara, Barangay Cabacao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, amid their unilateral ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

In a social media post, the 203rd Infantry Brigade claimed that troops from the 76th Infantry Battalion and the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion encountered what it called a “Communist Terrorist Group” in the area. 

Residents reported the presence of armed NPA members who had allegedly gathered to mark the CPP anniversary and celebrate the New Year, according to the military.

According to the Army, a resident alerted soldiers about armed individuals carrying long firearms, prompting a strike operation that led to an armed encounter.

The military said it recovered ATM cards, identification cards, personal belongings, medical and hygiene kits, food supplies, and alleged subversive documents from the site. Photos of the items were posted on its social media page.

Authorities said they are coordinating with the local government and police to identify individuals entering the area under Abra de Ilog’s “Dayo Ordinance,” enacted in 2025. Residents were urged to report suspicious individuals.

In a statement on Thursday, CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena said AFP troops attacked an NPA unit that was observing the CPP’s ceasefire from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1. He said the unit later withdrew and was in the area to provide medical and other services to local communities, mostly Mangyan residents.

Valbuena accused the AFP of disrupting peace in the area and claimed the military used heavy gunfire and helicopter gunships, causing fear among civilians.

Well, the AFP did warn the NPA they were not observing the ceasefire!

Insurgency: Spearhead On Track To Eliminate CTGs

Another town has ben declared insurgency-free. This time in southern Bukidnon.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2157156/bukidnon-town-declared-insurgency-free

After decades of being beset by the communist insurgency, this town in southern Bukidnon was declared insurgency-free on Friday, joining nine other localities in the province with the same status.

The declaration was made during a ceremony at the municipal grounds led by Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III, with officials from the Army’s 1003rd Brigade, the Bukidnon Police Provincial Office, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Lorenzo said the declaration was anchored on a resolution passed by the municipal peace and order council.

He recalled the decades-long toll of the insurgency in the town, which reached its height in the 1990s. 

The mayor said that the declaration was not intended to erase history, but to honor the sacrifices of residents and security forces, and to secure a peaceful future for the next generation.

A Manobo-Matigsalug tribal leader shared that his father, a former communist rebel who surrendered in 2019, helped establish the vigilante group Alsa Masa that opposed NPA activities.

He thanked the authorities for their support and urged fellow indigenous peoples to prioritize educating their children for a better future.

Brig. Gen. Christopher M. Diaz, commander of the Army’s 1003rd Brigade, said peace in Quezon was once only an aspiration during his early years of service in Mindanao. 

He noted that the current stability was the result of years of sacrifice by soldiers and police, stressing that peace is a shared responsibility and that development should now be prioritized.

Diaz credited the support of the local government as crucial to the achievement and assured residents of the Army’s continued vigilance.

Col. Oliver S. Navales, Bukidnon police director,  described the declaration as a collective victory rooted in unity and cooperation. 

He said being insurgency-free goes beyond the absence of armed conflict, reflecting trust and collaboration between communities and government. 

Navales added that sustained peace would open opportunities for education, investment, and economic growth, and thanked former rebels who chose to surrender and support lasting peace.

The ceremony also featured the signing of a persona non grata declaration against the communist movement and the release of white doves, symbolizing a milestone in the town’s history.

Quezon now joins the other insurgency-free areas in Bukidnon, namely, the towns of San Fernando, Kadingilan, Damulog, Dangcagan, Kibawe, Don Carlos, Maramag, Kitaotao, and Valencia City.

Col. Oliver S. Navales, Bukidnon police director says that this declaration will open opportunites for development in many areas. That includes the NTF-ELCAC's barangay development program which they claim is not a reward for insurgency cleared areas. 

The Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division which covers the Western Visayas, Negros Island Region and the Central Visayas claims they are on track to eliminate the NPA by the end of the year. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265820

The Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), also known as the Spearhead Division, is on track in its campaign to eliminate the local communist terrorist group (CTG) by the end of this year.

Accomplishments

Capt. Jessie Jun Ebalan, chief of the 3rd Division Public Affairs Office, said they have significant accomplishments when it comes to guerrilla units and reduction in manpower and firearms.

"We are on track; I could say that the 3rd Infantry Division is on track. We are winning our campaign in Western Visayas, Negros Island Region and Central Visayas. There is a significant decrease in the firepower and manpower of the NPA (New People's Army)," he said.

In June this year, through the National Joint Peace Security Coordinating Council, the vertical unit of Kilusang Rehiyon (KR) Panay, which is the Regional Sentro De Gravidad (RSDG) Madi-as, was declared as dismantled.

"A vertical unit is the regional striking force of KR-Panay. This is a big accomplishment since we have declared this as dismantled as of June 18 this year," he said.

This accomplishment won for the 3ID and its 301st Infantry Brigade the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Campaign Streamer Award, awarded during the 90th founding celebration at Camp Aguinaldo by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Other guerrilla fronts have been declared dismantled in previous years.

This year, they also neutralized 15 CTG members in Panay, to include the four who died in an encounter, one apprehended and the 10 who surrendered.

In Negros Island Region (NIR), there were 14 fatalities and 23 who surrendered.

Further, 82 firearms were seized, captured and surrendered. Of these, 47 were from Panay and 35 from the NIR.

Aid for rebels

Ebalan added that 17 former rebels received assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).

Under ECLIP, a rebel upon surrender receives PHP65,000 in assistance; PHP15,000 for immediate assistance and PHP50,000 livelihood aid.

There is a separate firearms remuneration, depending on the number and the serviceability.

Meanwhile, the 3ID also extended support to the Philippine National Police in serving the warrant against Roberto Caballes, the second deputy secretary of KR-Panay, resulting in his death.

An encounter in Negros Occidental led to the neutralization of four CTG members.

They also apprehended Gaspar Matullano, former KR-Panay secretary with a PHP2.5 million bounty and multiple standing warrants of arrest in Iloilo City.

The surrender of a wounded CTG member in an encounter in Tapaz, Capiz, to the 301st Infantry Brigade was also among their latest accomplishments.

The 3ID has jurisdiction over Western Visayas, Negros Island Region and Central Visayas.

"Hopefully, the division can reach the target that has been set by higher headquarters," he said.

It is interesting that while they cite accomplishments they don't cite any real numbers. How many rebels are left in the region? 

December 26th is the 57th anniversary of the founding of the CPP. The NTF-ELCAC says there is nothing to celebrate. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265854

The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) is hard pressed to find "existential relevance" as it has failed to deliver on its promises to its followers, the government's anti-insurgency task force said Friday.

“The honest answer is clear. Fifty-seven years on, what remains of the CPP’s social experiment is not a mass movement, but a sunken organization that vainly clings to an outdated ideology, sustained by deception, coercion, and the continued sacrifice of lives that no longer believe in its cause,” NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement, as the CPP-NPA marked its 57th anniversary.

Torre said the CPP anniversary is not an occasion for celebration but a moment of sober reflection for its members.

“After more than half a century of armed struggle, even as it currently claims to rectify and recover, the CPP is plagued with a question of existential relevance. Has this ‘revolution’ truly delivered to the people it claims to serve?” Torres asked.

“The CPP would have the country believe that this is because of fear or coercion. It is desperate to hide the fact that these communities are already seeing tangible improvements in the people’s lives. They see roads being built, livelihoods restored, and basic services that finally reach areas long neglected,” he added.

Peace and development, not armed violence, have proven to be the real instruments of change, Torres said.

“Militarily and politically, the NPA is now fragmented and depleted. Its remaining units are isolated, undersupplied, and increasingly reduced to acts of extortion, intimidation, and punitive violence against civilians,” he said.

Torres noted that the “loud rhetoric of resurgence through rectification and recovery” being claimed by the insurgents cannot hide the fact that the NPA has ceased to become an organized armed group but has turned into a band of isolated bandits in survival mode.

“Unable to rebuild support in the countryside through the NPA, the CPP has turned its political focus toward one remaining lifeline: Its urban-based operations. Universities, urban poor communities and other vulnerable groups have become prime targets for ideological grooming,” he added.

Under this method, Torres claimed that the youth are bombarded with romantic narratives of struggle, even as CPP organizers deliberately hide from would-be recruits grim realities of hunger, fear, disillusion and death in the mountains.

“Even in tragic deaths, the family’s mourning is weaponized and monetized, while recruitment quietly continues. This is not genuine activism. This is pure exploitation,” he added.

Alongside these, Torres said the CPP is merely relying on its legal democratic organizations, the wolves in sheeps’ clothing, to maintain relevance, weaponize narratives, and squeeze out financing opportunities to sustain its operations.

“The Filipino people have seen and embraced the government’s evolving but steady approach to ending local communist armed conflict that is no longer driven by force alone. Through a whole-of-nation framework and flagship initiatives like the Barangay Development Program, we continue to focus on governance reforms, social services, infrastructure, reintegration, and amnesty for those who genuinely choose peace,” Torres noted.

He added that the National Action for Unity, Peace and Development continues these initiatives now and beyond.

Torres said these efforts will continue to evolve and these will deliver real results that decades of armed struggle never did.

“After 57 years of bloodshed, displacement and broken promises, how many more lives must be spent to keep the CPP’s failed ideology alive? How many more young Filipinos must be persuaded to die for a revolution that no longer has a future?” he said.

Torres urged all remaining NPA fighters to surrender while the door to peace remained open.

He said this is a very viable option as a lot of former NPA rebels already chose the path that allowed them to reunite with their families and communities.

While noting that reintegration is not perfect, Torres said it is far more humane and fruitful than a life spent in constant flight and fear.

“The task force extends the same call to the remaining cadres and organizers of the CPP’s white area and urban operations. The path of violence must be abandoned and we must, together, pursue non-violent and democratic means to address our nation’s problems,” he said.

Torres said the ideology of armed violence has become impractical, socially costly, and exacted a toll that the Filipino people can no longer afford.

“Join the growing number of peace advocates who continue to work for change constructively, lawfully, and with respect for life,” the NTF-ELCAC official urged the remaining communist rebels.

There are two take aways here. The first is that the CPP is still very much active in its legal fronts and through humanitarian groups according to the NTF-ELCAC. The second is that communities are now seeing "roads being built, livelihoods restored, and basic services that finally reach areas long neglected." And why is that? Because areas declared insurgency-free have been rewarded with basic government services through the Barangay Development Program. 

The NPA has declared a holiday truce but the AFP has decided to ignore it. Just before the unilateral truce was set to begin 2 soldiers were killed by NPA landmines. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2157409/npa-landmines-reportedly-kill-2-soldiers-ahead-of-unilateral-truce

Explosive devices installed by the New People’s Army (NPA) killed two soldiers in Camarines Sur days ahead of the ceasefire declaration of the Maoist rebels.

This incident occurred at Balatan town’s Cabungan village on Friday, Dec. 19, according to Maj. Frank Roldan, spokesperson of the AFP 9th Infantry Division.

“Armed rebels treacherously bombed the troops of the 9th Infantry Battalion using anti-personnel mines,” Roldan said in a statement on Saturday.

No further details were disclosed, and the soldiers remain unidentified.

Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete condemned the incident.

“We will not stop until we achieve justice and restore the peace they died to protect,” Nafarrete said in a statement.

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesperson Marco Valbuena said the local NPA command in the area confirmed that the incident took place.

“Troops of the 9th IB were conducting offensive combat operations, and were prepared to mount an attack against the NPA fighters in the area,” Valbuena said in a statement on Sunday. “The NPA unit was alerted of the plans of the 9th IB and promptly carried out active defense operations.”

Valbuena noted that NPA members withdrew from the site immediately.

After the incident, acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Sunday ordered police commanders in Camarines Sur to intensify security and augment soldiers in the conduct of operations against the NPA.

Nartatez also said police are now on alert as they conduct investigation and prepare appropriate charges against those involved.

“I have directed hot pursuit operations against the rebels behind this landmine blast,” Nartatez said in a statement.

The December 19 incident occurred days before the first leg of CPP’s four-day unilateral ceasefire starting Dec. 25, prompting some 780 NPA fighters to suspend offensives. 

Aside from commemorating the holidays, the CPP said this year’s ceasefire is also to mark its 57th anniversary 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.

In the same province 2 NPA leaders were killed in a clash with the AFP.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/24/3-npa-leaders-2-members-killed-in-camarines-sur-clash

Three leaders and two members of the New People's Army (NPA) were killed in a clash with government troops in Camarines Sur province on Tuesday. 

Major Frank Roldan, 9th Infantry Division spokesperson, said troops from the 83rd Infantry Battalion and the Philippine National Police encountered the group in a mountainous area in Barangay Burabod, Lagonoy. 

Roldan said the casualties were Bal, head of the Regional Urban Committee of the Bicol Regional Party Committee; Paeng, head of Platoon 1, Komiteng Larangang Guerilla Sub-Regional Committee; and Ter or Dado, head of KLG2, SRC2, and their members Cris and Pepe. 

Recovered from the encounter site were an M16 rifle, a caliber .45 pistol, three anti-personnel mines, a laptop, and personal belongings. 

The gun battle followed intensified pursuit operations by troops after the discovery of four M16 rifles in Barangay Pinamihagan, Lagonoy on Dec. 20. 

Roldan said the communist rebels are attempting to return to areas they previously controlled to garner support but some residents reported them to authorities. 

Major Gen. Aldwine Almase, 9th ID commander, thanked the community for its cooperation in maintaining peace and security. Almase urged remaining NPA members to surrender.

That's two more leaders from the leaderless NPA who have been killed. 

The Army is calling on all remaining rebels in Northern Samar to surrender after a recent deadly clash. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265764

The Philippine Army on Wednesday urged remaining New People’s Army rebels in Northern Samar to surrender following a clash that killed two insurgents last week.

Brig. Gen. Carmelito Pangatungan, commander of the 803rd Infantry Brigade, conveyed his sympathies to the families of the two rebels killed in upland Bulao village, Las Navas town, on Dec. 19.

“The tragic incident serves as a solemn reminder of the human cost of armed conflict, while we express hope that peace, dialogue, and reconciliation may ultimately prevail,” Pangatungan said in a statement.

“We urge the remaining communist terrorist group remnants, particularly the sub-regional committee Arctic, to lay down their arms and take the path of peace and reintegration while the opportunity remains,” he added.

The two fighters died in a firefight after attacking patrolling soldiers from the 20th Infantry Battalion. Troops recovered three M16 rifles.

The military heightened operations after residents reported armed men threatening farmers and extorting supplies in the area. 

They probably won't but maybe they will once they see the basic government programs set for 2026.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265642

More projects designed to end insurgency will be implemented in Northern Samar province in 2026 under the Support to the Barangay Development Program (SBDP).

Citing reports from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Northern Samar provincial government on Monday said the SBDP has expanded with new recipient communities in 2026 and those part of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) for the year 2025-2026.

Listed as new SBDP beneficiaries are Barangays Macagtas, Washington, Somoge and Libjo in Catarman town; Barangays Del Pilar and Quezon in Las Navas; Barangay Alejandro in Allen; Barangay Sumuroy in Bobon; Barangays Magtuas and Sulitan in Catubig; Barangays Sibunot and Yabyaban in Laoang; Barangay Bayho of Lope de Vega; Barangays Mirador and Talolora in Mondragon; and Barangays Guindauhan and Kailingan in Rosario town.

"DILG's programs and projects stand as powerful testaments of both the provincial and national government's continuing commitment to uplifting the current conditions of the province, particularly for the communities in need," the Northern Samar provincial government said in a statement.

In 2024, 161 projects were completed under the SBDP in the province, while for the year 2025, two projects were completed, two new projects in Gamay and Mapanas are ongoing, and three projects are still under procurement, according to the DILG Northern Samar field office.

SBDP-funded projects include rural roads, health stations, water systems and schools for conflict-cleared and far-flung communities, addressing the needs of the identified communities to alleviate poverty, sustain peace, and foster development.

The SBDP, a flagship initiative of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, seeks to close development gaps in remote and vulnerable areas by delivering essential infrastructure, improving access to basic services, and addressing the root causes of insurgency.

"Delivering essential infrastructure, improving access to basic services, and addressing the root causes of insurgency." Again, that is basic government services as a counter-insurgency program.