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. 

Insurgency: Christmas, New Year Ceasfire

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186420

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.

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!

Insurgency: Safe Conduct Passes

The military claims to have "scored a major victory against the Islamic terror group Daulah Islamiyah" with the death of their leader during a clash. Fittingly enough this happened in the village of Satan. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2152492/islamic-terror-group-leader-slain-in-maguindanao-del-sur

The military believed they scored a major victory against the Islamic terror group Daulah Islamiyah (DI) when they announced the death of the group’s “amir” (leader or commander) in a clash with government troops in the village of Satan here at 5 a.m. on Sunday.

Ustadz Mohammad Usman Solaiman, identified as amir of the terror DI-Hassan Group, was the brother of Ustadz Kamaro Usman, a member of the DI-Hassan Group who was killed in a clash with government forces in Ampatuan town in March 2020; and a Commander Badi of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Brig. Gen. Edgar Catu, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade based in Ampatuan town, told the Inquirer on Monday.

According to Catu, Solaiman was known as the bomb maker of the DI-Hassan group and cousin of Basit Usman, the slain BIFF leader responsible for several attacks against government forces in Maguindanao del Sur.

Catu said Solaiman and Norodin Hassan, the amir for military affairs of DI-Hassan Group, were candidates to replace alias Abu Azim, the slain leader of the DI and BIFF alliance.

Solaiman’s group has been tagged in the series of bomb attacks against civilian targets, including the bombing of Rural Bus in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte, on April 24, 2022; the bombings of Yellow Bus units in Tacurong City in Sultan Kuradat province and Koronadal City in South Cotabato on May 26, 2022; and the bombing of Yellow Bus unit on Nov. 6, 2022, in Tacurong City’s bus terminal.

The same group was also responsible for the bombing of a Husky double deck bus at the bus terminal of Isulan town in South Cotabato on April 17, 2023; the ambush of 40th Infantry Battalion Army troopers in Barangay Tuayan, Datu Hofer, Maguindanao del Sur; and the robbery-slay of three goat vendors from Batangas discovered buried in a shallow grave in Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao del Sur, in June this year.

Catu lauded the civilians brave enough to report Solaiman’s location to government forces.

“The civilian information helped our troops in locating the terrorist group in the village of Satan, Shariff Aguak,” Catu said.

Solaiman’s companions managed to escape during the skirmishes, the military said.

“We urge the remnants of DI and BIFF to avail of the government’s offer of peace,” said Maj. Gen. Vladimir Cagara, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, the mother unit of the 601st Infantry Battalion.

That still leaves "Norodin Hassan, the amir for military affairs of DI-Hassan Group" which means the DI is not leaderless. They are also allied with the BIFF. 

The Army claims more IS men will be surrendering after the death of Solaiman. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2153068/army-sees-more-is-men-to-surrender-after-death-of-leader

The Army command in Central Mindanao is expecting to see more local affiliates of the Islamic State (IS) terror network to surrender following the killing of Daulah Islamiyah (DI)-Hassan Group leader Ustadz Mohammad Usman Solaiman on Sunday.

Lt. Col. Ronald Suscano, spokesperson for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said they were expecting that the fall of Solaiman, who led the group since 2022, would further tighten the screw against the remaining band of terrorists in the region.

“Their world has become smaller. And now, they are without a leader,” Suscano said in an interview with dwDD, a radio station run by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The Army, he added, hopes to wrap up its pursuit of the group before year-end.

Suscano said Solaiman was not accompanied by a group of armed followers when soldiers of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade pursued him in Satan village in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur.

“That was an indication that the group was already losing adherents through earlier surrenders, and that they were on their own, dependent on their respective families to hide them from authorities,” he said.

Suscano added that Solaiman’s whereabouts were pieced from information shared by his followers who had surrendered to authorities.

He said that Solaiman, known as “Baby Bungos” and “Kikay,” had the option to surrender but he missed this chance, hence the launch of the military operation.

The Army bases the dissolution of the DI on the fact that "Solaiman was not accompanied by a group of armed followers" when he was pursued. There could be any number of reasons he was alone. In fact the PNP is on alert for any possible retaliation for his death. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1264833

Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., ordered all units in the central and western parts of Mindanao to be on alert for possible retaliatory attacks following the killing of a high-ranking leader and bomb expert of the terrorist group Dawlah Islamiyah–Hassan Group (DI-HG).

In a statement on Tuesday, Nartatez said the police are working closely with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Our personnel on the ground maintain high level of alert and continuously strengthen defensive positions to deter any possible retaliatory attack while also ensuring the safety and security of the civilian population in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Nartatez. 

The military identified the suspected terrorist as Ustadz Mohammad Usman Solaiman, the pinpointed amir of DI-HG killed during an operation on Sunday in Barangay Satan, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur. 

Solaiman was believed to be an expert bomb maker. His group was allegedly behind a series of bomb attacks targeting bus units across Mindanao.

Nartatez appealed to the public to remain vigilant. 

“I urge the public to remain calm and immediately inform authorities if you have information about these lawless elements or other local terror groups,” he said.

That means there are followers of the DI remain and there are enough of them to launch a retaliatory attack. The statements from the PNP and the Army appear to contradict one another. 

The AFP says 1.928 NPA rebels and supporters have been neutralized between January 1st and December 4th, 2025. 

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.

The AFP also said 1,042 firearms and 446 anti-personnel mines were either seized or surrendered, and 142 rebel encampments were captured.

In a statement, the AFP said these numbers reflect the growing loss of support of the NPA and its allies.

"Our focused military operations combined with community engagements and whole-of-nation efforts continue to dismantle armed groups and continue to secure communities," it said.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) earlier said NPA strength across the country has been reduced to only 780 from as high as 25,000 in the 1980s.

Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s peace agenda, 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 members of the NPA, as well as of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front, who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and Special Penal laws in furtherance of their political beliefs, among other offenses.

Again there is no breakdown of the number of rebels vs the number of supporters. That makes this number bloated and meaningless.

In Northern Samar ex-rebels have been given safe conduct passes so they can apply for amnesty. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1264792

Nine former rebels in Northern Samar and six others in Leyte have been issued safe conduct passes (SCPs), signaling continued progress in the government’s Amnesty Program aimed at promoting peaceful reintegration and reducing local armed conflict.

In Northern Samar, the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), through the Local Amnesty Board (LAB)–Catbalogan, released SCPs to nine beneficiaries during a ceremony held Monday at the headquarters of the Philippine Army's (PA) 19th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Opong, Catubig town.

The activity, conducted in partnership with the PA’s 803rd Infantry Brigade and the Northern Samar Provincial Police Office, formed part of intensified efforts to support former members of communist terrorist groups who are returning to mainstream society.

To date, 69 former rebels supervised by the 19th IB have filed for amnesty. Of these, 23 have already been issued SCPs, including the nine new recipients. Fourteen more applicants are expected to receive their passes in the coming days.

Lt. Col. Ricky James Rosalejos, commander of the 19th IB, welcomed the beneficiaries and emphasized the role of the amnesty program in strengthening peace and stability in the province.

“The issuance, done in close coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), demonstrated the government’s continuing commitment to a transparent and humane reintegration process,” Rosalejos said in an interview.

LAB–Catbalogan peace program officer Jazmine Odyssa Lutao and legal officer Gelyn Diaz-Omanito assisted in the processing of applications ahead of the program’s March 2026 deadline.

In Leyte, the LAB–Tacloban issued SCPs to six applicants during a Dec. 4, 2025 activity in Tacloban City.

LAB–Tacloban acknowledged the support of city police chief Col. Noelito Getigan for ensuring a smooth and orderly evaluation, as well as Bhea Janine Gozo, peace program officer and LAB–Tacloban secretary, for coordinating documentation and assisting applicants throughout the process.

LAB–Tacloban also expressed gratitude to all partners and applicants for their cooperation in the government’s ongoing peacebuilding and reintegration initiatives.

SCPs are documents that grant temporary protection from arrest, detention, or prosecution for covered offenses, allowing them safe passage and freedom to complete their amnesty applications and reintegrate into society.

These ex-rebels have been operating without them for so long one wonders why they need them? Is it merely symbolic and performative?

Two ranking NPA leaders have surrendered once more disproving the AFP's lie that the NPA is leaderless. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1264911

Two remaining leaders of the New People’s Army - North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NPA-NCMRC) surrendered to troopers of the Philippine Army’s 402nd Infantry Brigade (402Bde) in Agusan del Norte on Monday.

In a statement on Wednesday, the 402Bde identified the surrenderers as Ariel Galario Domino, the second deputy secretary of NCMRC, and Lorena Tomania Palda, the committee’s medic.

The 402Bde viewed the duo’s surrender as a major setback for the NCMRC’s weakening guerrilla network amid ongoing military operations in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon.

“As a ranking personality, Domino was reportedly involved in critical decision-making and operational planning within the NCMRC’s Sub-Regional Committee 1,” said Brig. Gen. Adolfo Espuelas Jr., the 402Bde commander.

He added that Palda is also responsible for providing combat medical support and training to NPA fighters under the committee.

“Their surrender was the result of the relentless operational pressure, combined with effective coordination with local government units, former rebels, and community organizations,” Espuelas said.

Of course this is "a major setback for the NCMRC’s weakening guerrilla network." Every time a leader of the NPA surrenders its a major blow or a major set back. And yet the NPA keeps trucking on. 

The NTF-ELCAC has dared the 780 remaining NPA rebels to condemn their own actions. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1264903

A ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Wednesday dared the remaining New People's Army (NPA) members to condemn the killings perpetuated by the group.

"If you truly believe in human rights, then denounce the killings your movement ordered," NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement marking International Human Rights Day.

He said the challenge also goes to the leaders of the NPA, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the National Democratic Front (NDF), their front organizations, and "ideological apologists."

"Condemn the executions your doctrine justified. Admit the unspeakable suffering your so-called revolution inflicted on the very people it claimed to liberate," Torres said.

The NTF-ELCAC official issued the challenge after noting that the CPP-NPA-NDF still refuses to confront "the darkest truth of its legacy," which resulted in the execution of thousands of Filipinos, including farmers, students, Indigenous People, activists, and even their own members.

Torres was alluding to the CPP-NPA's previous internal campaigns Oplan Zombie, Kampanyang Ahos, and Kadena de Amor, where thousands suspected of being government spies were killed.

He noted that the victims of the executions and their families deserve justice, stressing that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but also the "presence of justice, dignity, and respect for every Filipino life."

"As a nation, we must remain vigilant. The peace we enjoy today – felt in once conflict-stricken sitios, in classrooms finally safe for children, in barangays where commerce now hums – is a peace that must be sustained, protected, and deepened," he said.

Torres also called on the public and civil society groups to condemn the normalization of "NPA-style executions."

"We call on all sectors – academe, youth, civil society, faith groups, LGUs, and media – to reject the normalization of NPA-style executions and ideological violence. Defend human rights with truth, not propaganda," he said in a separate statement.

He added that human rights cannot be selective and invoked only when convenient or weaponized to shield perpetrators.

"The NPA's documented killings – including recent 'spy-tagging' executions – are not mere statistics; they represent shattered families and communities terrorized into silence," he said.

Torres earlier said NPA strength across the country has been reduced to only 780 from as high as 25,000 in the 1980s.

Now, Torres knows that is not going to happen. The NPA will find a way to justify their killings. Every communist rebels from Russia to China to Cuba has done the same. But it makes Torres and the NTF-ELCAC look like they have the moral high ground. Will he answer the COA's claim that the NTF-ELCAC has underutilized its budget thus undermining efforts to end the insurgency?