The AFP has held mass surrender ceremonies where former rebels pledge loyalty to the government. They are usually the same affair with the burning of the rebel flag and releasing of white doves. However, this time the AFP held a different type of ceremony with former rebels, a mass wedding.
https://mindanaotimes.com.ph/from-conflict-to-commitment-72-couples-celebrate-unity-in-bukidnon/ |
A POWERFUL symbol of peace and reconciliation unfolded in Barangay Digongan as 72 tribal couples, many former members of the New People’s Army (NPA), exchanged vows in a moving mass wedding ceremony on Feb. 28, 2025.
The “Kasalan ng Bayan,” officiated by Datu Cosme Lambayon, the Municipal Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Kitaotao, Bukidnon, marked a significant step in the couples’ journey toward reintegration into mainstream society.
Each couple received a gift of rice, symbolizing sustenance and prosperity, as they embarked on their new lives together.
The event resonated deeply as it represented not just the union of individuals, but a collective commitment to peace after years of conflict.
The couple’s decision to lay down arms and embrace a peaceful future was celebrated by community leaders and government officials alike.
“This mass wedding is not just about the union of two individuals but also a symbol of hope, transformation, and a commitment to a brighter future for these couples and their families,” said Lieutenant Colonel Antonio G. Bulao, commander of the 89th Infantry (Makatao) Battalion.
Municipal Kitaotao Vice Mayor Mary Ann G. Angit also attended the ceremony, underscoring the local government’s support for initiatives promoting peace, unity, and community development.
The event highlighted the ongoing collaboration between local government, security forces, and indigenous communities to foster stability and sustainable development in the region.
The mass wedding served as a testament to the power of reconciliation and the promise of a peaceful future for the people of Kitaotao.
Did some of these couples meet during battle? A mass wedding is definitely a sign these people have given up the struggle. After all marriage is for the bourgeois.
Another arm cache has been found in Camarines Sur.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2040348/govt-forces-discover-arms-cache-in-camarines-sur |
Authorities on Tuesday recovered a cache of explosives and firearms in Lagonoy town in Camarines Sur.
Provincial police said government forces recovered an improvised explosive device made of plastic pipe and 52 pieces of steel M16 magazine in Barangay Agosais at 9:59 a.m.
Police officers and Army troops discovered the area while conducting an intelligence operation.
The recovered items were placed under police custody for proper disposition.
No word if these are NPA weapons but that seems most likely.
A clash in Agusan del Sur resulted in the death of one NPA fighter.
https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/6/1-npa-killed-in-agusan-del-sur-clash |
A New People’s Army rebel was killed in a 30-minute encounter with soldiers in Barangay Magsaysay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur on Tuesday, March 4.
The casualty was identified as Dar, a member of the Subregional Sentro de Gravidad Southland of the Communist Party of the Philippines-Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
Capt. Arc F. Jayson, 401st Infantry (Unite N’ Fight) Brigade civil-military operations officer, said an M16 Armalite rifle, one AR18 rifle, backpacks, a bandolier, and subversive documents were recovered in the encounter site.
Dar’s remains were turned over to the local government of Prosperidad for proper disposition.
Jayson said they are pursuing the fleeing rebels.
“As of this time, our ground troops are still pursuing the remaining running NPAs following their blood stains along their escape route of withdrawal,” he said.
“The operation was initiated in response to reports from concerned residents about CTG activities in the area, including extortion and other disruptive actions affecting local communities,” Jayson added.
Troops conducted loudspeaker operations, dialogues, and distributed informational materials in nearby barangays to reassure residents of their safety and security following the encounter.
Col. Emil Cruz, commanding officer of the 401st Brigade, commended operating troops for their efforts and reaffirmed their commitment to peace and security in the region.
No casualty was reported on the government side.
The AFP says this encounter was in response to concern about the NPA engaging in disruptive actions. The same disruptive actions of which the AFP has claimed the NPA is no longer capable. They have also claimed the NPA is leaderless but leaders continue to fall.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1245702 |
Two regional leaders of the New People's Army (NPA) were killed in a clash with troops of the Philippine Army's 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) in the hinterlands of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental on Saturday.
In a report Sunday afternoon, the 79IB identified the fatalities as Hans “Jojo” Ponteras, in his 40s, acting regional front secretary and finance officer of the Regional Taxation Implementing Group of Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor; and Marissa Pobresa, 23, a former squad member who later became Ponteras’ primary staff and the unit’s regional communications officer.
In a press statement, Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, commander of the 79IB, described their deaths as a major setback for the communist group in Negros and the entire Visayas region.
"The neutralization of their sitting regional front secretary, at the same time regional finance officer, and their communications officer signals their near decimation," he added.
The clash, which took place in Hacienda Paraiso, Barangay Caduha-an at around 1:50 a.m., involved about seven NPA rebels.
Ponteras and Pobresa’s bodies were abandoned by their comrades.
Troops recovered firearms, grenades and subversive documents, including extortion letters allegedly signed by Ponteras under the alias "Armando Magbanua."
The military reported no casualties on their side.
Of course the deaths of these two men "signals their near decimation."
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity says they are helping to facilitate the amnesty applications of 20 former members of the breakaway Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1245360 |
Twenty former rebels and members of the breakaway Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-RPA-ABB) in Negros Oriental are applying for government amnesty, a military official said Tuesday.
Capt. Arvin Talco of the Philippine Army's 302nd Infantry Brigade Civil Military Operations told the Philippine News Agency that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) is spearheading the amnesty application.
“The amnesty applicants are members of the Kapatiran Para sa Progresong Panlipunan-Negros Oriental chapter who have gone through an evaluation process for the amnesty application,” Talco said.
Kapatiran is the RPM-RPA-ABB’s new name under the Tabara-Paduano Group that entered into a peace agreement with the Philippine government.
The RPA-ABB is a breakaway of the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
GPH-Kapatiran chair Cesar Yano, National Amnesty Chair Leah Tanodra-Armamento and GPH-Kapatiran co-chair Ma. Veronica Tabara are attending the activity at the brigade headquarters at Camp Leon Kilat, Tanjay City on Wednesday.
That's great but 20 is only a small number of those who have applied for amnesty.
https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/8/2-424-ex-rebels-apply-for-amnesty-commission |
A total of 2,424 amnesty applications from former rebels have already been received and processed by the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), a year after the government started accepting requests for the abolition of their criminal liabilities for past political offenses.
As of March 7, the NAC has accepted 1,546 applications from former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF); 518 from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF); 297 from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF); and 63 from the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB).
The highest intake in a single day was recorded by the NAC when it received 127 applications from the MILF and MNLF during the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization, organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), last Feb. 26.
In a statement Saturday, March 8, the NAC said the development was a “testament of the strong response the government’s amnesty program received from individuals seeking to benefit from it.”
But how many more forms rebels have yet to submit their applications for amnesty?
The COMELEC has ruled against red-tagging yet according to Bayan Muna they are still being red-tagged.
https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/5/bayan-muna-condemns-ntf-elcac-s-red-tagging-of-makabayan-party-lists |
Former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares has condemned the nationwide red-tagging activities of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) against progressive party-lists in the upcoming elections, calling it “black propaganda".
Colmenares' remark came amid reports from various regions that there was coordinated distribution of materials that were red-tagging Bayan Muna and other Makabayan bloc candidates.
He called this a clear violation of Commission on Elections' (Comelec) rules against black propaganda.
"This systematic red-tagging campaign using government resources is not only a blatant violation of election laws but also puts the lives of our candidates and supporters in danger," he said.
Colmenares says the task force is "desperately trying to prevent progressive voices from gaining seats in Congress because they know these representatives will hold them accountable for their abuses".
Bayan Muna documented evidence of the coordinated operations and questioned the use of public funds for these illegal activities.
He said such red-tagging activities were done in Kalinga, Nueva Ecija, Mandaue City and Cebu City in Cebu, Malolos City and Calumpit in Bulacan, San Fernando and Angeles in Pampanga, Lucena City, Iloilo City, Antipolo City, Quezon City and other parts of Metro Manila, Laguna, Tacloban City, Cotabato City, General Santos, and Cagayan de Oro.
"Why are they so afraid of Bayan Muna winning? Why resort to black propaganda when Comelec has explicitly prohibited this?" Colmenares asked.
"They are spending people's money on these desperate tactics. Are these public funds? Are they using intelligence funds?" he added.
Colmenares then called for a thorough investigation and documentation of all such incidents across the country.
"We have seen enough pictures to know it is a nationally coordinated operation," he added.
"We should expose NTF-ELCAC and its illegal activities. These incidents are not isolated but coordinated," he said.
Well, if the COMELEC will not do anything about premature campaigning (according to the SC there is no such thing because candidates are not actually candidates until the campaign period starts) then it is likely they won't do a thing about red-tagging.