Insurgency: Holy Week Peace Drive

 Another region has been declared insurgency free. This time it is the Cagayan Valley. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/25/council-declares-region-2-insurgency-free

Cagayan Valley was formally declared insurgency-free during a meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) at the provincial capitol here on Tuesday, March 24.

The RPOC led by chairperson and Cagayan Gov. Edgar B. Aglipay approved a resolution affirming the declaration which was called a major milestone in the government’s campaign to end local communist armed conflict.

Aglipay said the region is now under a State of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SSIPS), signifying sustained peace, improved security conditions, and strengthened governance across all provinces in Cagayan Valley.

The governor emphasized that the declaration is the result of unified and sustained efforts among government agencies, security forces, local government units, and communities under the whole-of-nation approach.

“This declaration is the result of the collective action of various sectors—from the government, the police, and the military, to local governments and citizens—to finally put an end to the threat of insurgency in our region,” Aglipay said.

He recognized the dedication and sacrifices of the security sector, noting that their continued vigilance and commitment have been instrumental in maintaining peace and protecting communities from threats posed by communist terrorist groups.

The RPOC said the declaration indicates the absence of active armed threats in affected areas. The SSIPS status affirms that peace in the region is not merely temporary but is being sustained through effective governance, ongoing development initiatives, and active public participation.

Aglipay said that the RPOC will intensify collaboration among member-agencies to ensure the effective implementation of strategies aimed at addressing other forms of criminality and sustaining long-term peace and development in Cagayan Valley. 

"The declaration indicates the absence of active armed threats in affected areas." Interesting. Note that it does not mean the absence of actual NPA combatants. 

In Negros three top NPA remnants fell in a recent clash. The Army says that is justice for their victims. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271587

The death of three ranking New People's Army (NPA) remnants in Negros Island has brought justice to the victims of summary executions in southern Negros, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) declared on Monday.

“Justice has prevailed with the neutralization of these ranking remnants who were behind the brutal killings of civilians in Negros," 3ID commander Maj. Gen. Michael Samson said in a statement.

Part of the NPA's Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros dismantled Southwest Front and Regional Striking Force (RSF), they died in a firefight with troops of the 47th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Tampalon, Kabankalan City, on March 21.

RSF vice commander Ritchell "Ka Makoy," 26, was a resident of Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, who was deployed to the Southwest Front in 2025.

Milky “Ka Gorting” Sampini, 29, RSF finance and logistics officer, of Lamugong, Manjuyod, Negros Oriental, was a red fighter since 2016.

Joedil “Ka Cairo" Balsimo, 21, of Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, was a squad leader of RSF, who joined the NPA in southern Negros in 2023.

Their remains were brought to the Sola Gracia Funeral Homes in Kabankalan City for documentation and coordination with their respective families, the 3ID report said.

The three NPA remnants were identified by the 302nd Infantry Brigade as among the perpetrators in the series of civilian killings in Negros Island.

One of the victims, Leonora Anguit, 74, who was tagged as a military informant, was executed by rebels near her home in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, on Feb. 3 this year, an act admitted by the NPA in a statement.  

According to reports, the house of Anguit was occupied by the seven NPA remnants who were killed in a clash with soldiers in April last year.

After the encounter in Sitio Santol over the weekend, the 47IB troops recovered five high-powered firearms – one R4 rifle, two M16 rifles, and two M203 grenade launchers – as well as a hand grenade, personal items, and subversive documents. 

If death is justice then what is amnesty??

In Suirgao Sur a clash left two NPA rebels dead. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271526

Two New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an encounter that occurred on Sunday afternoon in the periphery of Barangay Nurcia, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, the military here said.

“Troops from the 36th Infantry Battalion (36IB) were conducting a security operation in the area when the encounter happened,” the 401st Infantry Brigade (401st IBde) said in a statement on Monday.

The operation was launched after residents reported the presence of NPA rebels in the area, particularly the remnants of Sub-Regional Sentro De Grabidad Westland under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

Following the firefight, the NPA rebels abandoned their position, leaving behind their two dead comrades, who were later identified as Ka Rex and Ka Bunso.

The 36IB troopers also recovered four high-powered firearms from the encounter site.

“After the clash, troops immediately secured the area to ensure the safety of nearby communities and prevent further threats,” Col. Glenn Joy Aynera, the 401st IBde commander, said in the same statement.

Pursuit operations are ongoing to track down the NPA remnants who are on the run following the encounter.

But there were other rebels besides the two dead. How many were there? The article does not say. Over all operations during March in Surigao Sur have depleted the NPA.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271938

A series of military operations this month dealt major setbacks to the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Caraga Region, particularly in Surigao del Sur, with government forces recovering 14 high-powered firearms, ammunition and other war materials.

This month’s ongoing operations also led to the deaths of two NPA rebels and the surrender of two others.

“This is the result of the combined efforts of the military, local government units and civilians in our communities through the effective implementation of the whole-of-nation approach,” Capt. Melvin Dela Calzada, operations officer of the Philippine Army’s 4th Civil-Military Operations Battalion, said Friday.

He said Army battalions in Caraga have built strong ties with communities, including civilians who once supported the rebel movement.

“The issues once used by the NPA in recruiting civilians and influencing our communities have been addressed by the government through the whole-of-nation approach,” Dela Calzada said.

He added that through civil-military operations, the Army has identified community concerns and referred them to government agencies and local governments for immediate action.

“The NPA rebels could no longer exploit the issues and concerns since these are already addressed by the government,” he said.

On March 24, the 36th Infantry Battalion (IB) under the 401st Infantry Brigade recovered three high-powered firearms in Barangay Bitaugan, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur. The cache included a Czech VZ rifle and two Carbine rifles.

On March 22, two NPA rebels were killed in a clash with government troopers in Barangay Nurcia, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur. Four high-powered firearms and ammunition were recovered after the encounter, which stemmed from reports of rebels conducting extortion activities.

On March 21, two NPA rebels surrendered to the 36IB headquarters, bringing with them two high-powered firearms.

Also, on March 13, troops from the 30IB uncovered four high-powered firearms in Barangay Carromata, San Miguel, comprising three M16A1 rifles, one M4 rifle and 173 rounds of assorted ammunition.

Two days earlier, 30IB troopers also recovered an R4 rifle with ammunition in Barangay Carromata.

Meanwhile, the Local Amnesty Board (LAB) in Butuan City said that as of March 26, a total of 155 former rebels from Agusan del Norte have been issued safe conduct passes (SCPs).

To date, the LAB-Butuan has received 556 SCP applications, including 232 filed this year, with 169 still being processed.

That is only four rebels neutralized in the area. How many remain?

The NTF-ELCAC is engaging with academe concerning NPA recruitment. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1270991

A ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Friday said the body will continue engaging with universities and the academe to inform and educate students on the realities of insurgency and recruitment of young people.

"The NTF-ELCAC will never tire in engaging academic institutions with respect and openness, even as passionate students misconstrue or even intentionally misrepresent our intentions. Our shared objective is to ensure that Filipino youth are equipped with truth, critical thinking, and opportunity, not drawn into conflicts that only prolong suffering and division," said Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., NTF-ELCAC executive director.

This is needed as the Communist Party of the Philippines, its armed wing New People’s Army (NPA) and national democratic organizations have invested significant effort in organizing and recruiting within major universities and schools across the country, the NTF-ELCAC official stressed.

"This is not a claim invented out of thin air, as it is a historical reality acknowledged by former members, even by the movement itself. It is not the fault or failing of these schools that a few of their students started as well-intentioned activists later became armed insurgents," he added.

Torres said many former rebels, who now work in peace-building, recounted how their political journeys began inside campuses where narratives romanticized armed struggle while downplaying its human cost.

Likewise, the NTF-ELCAC official called on universities across the country to raise the level of discourse on insurgency, youth recruitment, and academic freedom, stressing that honest and responsible debate — not propaganda or slogans — must guide discussions in campuses if the nation is to achieve just peace and genuine nation-building.

Torres made this request after noting that recent social media debates triggered by a forum held last year at the University of Santo Tomas highlighted the continuing tension between academic freedom and the need to openly confront the realities of insurgency and the recruitment of young people into armed struggle.

“Universities have always been spaces where ideas collide. Here, convictions are tested and difficult national questions are debated. Our aim should always be to elevate discourse in ways that promote peace and academic freedom while steering conversations away from propaganda and toward just peace and nation-building,” he said.

He also added that individuals who speak about insurgency and youth recruitment —particularly former rebels and scholars with firsthand knowledge — should not automatically be dismissed as enemies of academic freedom.

“Many of those who speak candidly about these matters do so precisely because they have witnessed how young lives can be drawn into cycles of violence through ideological manipulation or what can be described as terror grooming,” he said.

Torres also added that professors and resource persons who raise these concerns deserve to be heard even when their views are strongly contested.

“Passionate debates are part of university life. But the manner in which we engage each other—whether with respect or dismissal—ultimately determines whether dialogue enlightens or divides," he added.

So, the NPA is strategically defeated, the amnesty program is a big blow to them, remaining rebels are beginning to see the light and surrender, yet the NPA is still able to recruit? How is this possible? 

The NTF-ELCAC is also seeking to insert its propaganda into Holy Week sermons. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271638

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is urging churches, civil society groups, and government agencies to promote peace, reconciliation, and unity as the country observes Holy Week.

Speaking on the sidelines of a two-day major island action planning workshop for Northern and Central Luzon on Tuesday, NTF-ELCAC Strategic Communications head Rodrigo Lutao said the call for peace is rooted in both faith and national development.

"The true cost of violence is borne not on battlefields alone, but in homes, schools, markets, and places of worship – where innocent people simply seek to live in peace. Holy Week calls us to reflect on suffering, but also on the hope that suffering can lead to renewal," Lutao said.

He said NTF-ELCAC continues to push its peace advocacy, especially during Holy Week, a period of reflection for Filipinos.

Lutao added that biblical teachings underscore respect for authority and unity.

"The Bible verses are very significant in shaping our understanding of peace and security in the Philippines, especially today," he said.

He emphasized that the task force, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., remains committed to promoting peace and security nationwide, noting that stability is key to economic progress.

"For many years, our nation has endured the painful consequences of violence and terrorism. It is often our ordinary citizens who have paid the heaviest price – families torn apart, communities displaced, livelihoods destroyed, and innocent lives lost. Mothers and fathers have buried their children. Children have grown up amid fear and uncertainty. Entire communities have struggled to rebuild after the devastation left by acts of terror. On this solemn day, we remember these suffering communities," Lutao said.

He added that nation-building requires unity, cooperation, and respect for institutions that uphold the rule of law, calling on Filipinos to work together in addressing the root causes of violence.

"For peace is not merely the absence of conflict – it is the presence of justice, compassion, and solidarity," Lutao said.

In a message to participants, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the government’s approach to peace and order has evolved from the 1980s, when efforts were largely focused on security operations and psychological operations.

"Our fighters from (the) communist movement are now almost decimated, so we have to change strategy, not just on the operation plan and psy-ops. The best way is (to) inform the public of the truth. The truth hurts, but it is the truth," Magalong said.

Holy Week is all about the crucifxion of Christ. How about they save the politics for another day?

Insurgency: A Quiet Victory

The deadline for the amnesty program has come and gone. Over 11,000 former communist rebels have applied. At least that is the number as of 5 p.m. on March 13th. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271101

The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) has received over 11,000 amnesty applications coming from former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

These figures are as of 5 p.m. of March 13, the deadline for application for former NPAs, the agency said in a statement Sunday night.

The NAC said these 11,000 applications from the CPP-NPA-NDF accounted for more than 80 percent total applications for all groups covered by the amnesty program.

Groups covered by the government amnesty program include the NPAs, Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas–Revolutionary Proletarian Army–Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Deadline for application for the RPMP-RPA-ABB, MILF and MNLF was on March 4.

"As the application period closes, the NAC emphasized that the amnesty program remains an important component of the national government’s peacebuilding agenda, providing former rebels with an opportunity to reintegrate into mainstream society," it said.

The NAC received a total of 13,630 applications from all these groups, surpassing the initial target of 10,000.

The final tally of the overall applications received by the NAC will be released once all submissions have been processed.

The total for all groups who applied is 13,630. Remember, that is the number of applicants on the day of the deadline, March 13th. 

The very next day, March 14th, the number of applicants increased to 16,003.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271294

Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the high turnout of applicants for the government's amnesty program showcases the determination of former rebels and combatants to start a new life and trust in the government.

"(This high turnout) is a testament to their determination to start a new chapter in their lives, as well as shows their full trust and confidence in the national government,” he said in a statement Tuesday night.

A total of 16,003 former rebels and combatants have availed themselves of the national government’s amnesty program as of March 14, marking another major milestone under the comprehensive Philippine peace process.

Data from the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) show that the majority of the applicants –

13,633 – are former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and their front organizations.

Their applications were received before the March 13 deadline set for the group. In the meantime, 1,240 applicants came from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), while the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) had 646.

Another 484 applications were submitted by members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa - Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army - Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA-ABB) who now call themselves the Kapatiran.

The deadline for the MILF, MNLF, and RPM-P/RPA-ABB applicants was set earlier on March 4.

“This milestone reflects the desire of these former combatants to turn away from decades of armed struggle, embrace peace, and rebuild their lives,” Galvez said.

He added that the Amnesty Program is a cornerstone of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. 's administration's peace agenda, which aims to complement all signed peace agreements and ongoing Normalization and Transformation Programs, particularly in Mindanao.

“The sheer number of applications demonstrates trust in the government, trust in the peace process, and trust that former rebels and combatants have a chance to build communities,” Galvez said.

13,633 of those applicants were former CPP-NPA members. Their applications were received BEFORE the March 13th deadline. So, why was it reported on March 13th that only 11,000 CPP-NPA members had applied if their applications were received before that date? Processing lag?

The NTF-ELCAC says this is a quiet" but decisive victory" for the government. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271371

A ranking official from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Thursday described the government's amnesty program as a "quiet but decisive victory for peace".

“The numbers speak for themselves. This is not failure—this is a quiet but decisive victory for peace,” NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement.

Citing figures provided by the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), he said the amnesty program has already received 16,003 applications, far exceeding the initial projection of 10,000.

Of these, 13,633 were actual combatants and supporters of the armed struggle under the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Their applications were received before the March 13 deadline set for the group.

In the meantime, 1,240 applicants came from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), while the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) had 646.

Another 484 applications were submitted by members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa–Pilipinas / Revolutionary Proletarian Army–Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA-ABB) who now call themselves the Kapatiran.

The deadline for MILF, MNLF, and RPM-P/RPA-ABB applicants was set earlier on March 4.

Torres said that this proves that the amnesty program is a resounding success and has prompted authorities to push for its continuation for another two years, or until 2028, as more applicants are expected in the coming months.

He added that this "overwhelming response" to the program underscores a decisive shift on the ground as former CPP-NPA-CDF members are now choosing peace over armed struggle.

For her part, NAC chairperson, lawyer Leah Tanodra-Armamento affirmed that the surge in applications reflects growing trust in the process, as former rebels realize they can pursue their advocacies without violence and without endangering their families.

“We received a total of 16,003 applications—far exceeding expectations. This shows that more and more are choosing peace and lawful engagement over armed struggle,” Armamento said.

Amid the surge in applications, Armamento disclosed that an extension of the amnesty period—originally set to lapse under Executive Order No. 47—is now in motion, with a recommendation from the Executive Committee, NTF-ELCAC and awaiting the President’s approval and signature.

“We are inviting everyone—even though the application period was supposed to have ended, we now have a recommendation for extension which is awaiting the President’s signature,” she added.

The extension will cover another two years, up to 2028, through another proclamation aligned with the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term, ensuring continuity without the need for a yearly congressional concurrence. “In the meantime, we continue to accept applications and mark them as provisionally accepted,” Armamento added.

The NAC chief also highlighted the government’s “Aftercare for Grantees of Amnesty” program, which provides a comprehensive pathway for reintegration, including the dismissal of pending cases and the clearing of records from the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police. “This is not just amnesty—it is a real second chance,” she said.

Armamento noted that the program has already uncovered cases where applicants had multiple pending charges they were unaware of—one even having as many as 80—which are now being addressed through government support mechanisms.

Meanwhile, Torres said the CPP’s attempts to discredit the program reveal its growing desperation as it struggles to contain the steady exodus of its members.

“This is what the CPP fears—the truth that their own members are leaving, choosing dignity, stability, and a brighter future with their families,” Torres said.

“Unable to stop the departures, they resort to delegitimizing those who choose peace and dismissing their testimonies. But these are sworn statements, validated through due process, and they expose the reality of life inside the armed movement," he added.

Torres emphasized that the success of the amnesty program goes hand in hand with the government’s broader peace and development initiatives, particularly the Barangay Development Program, which delivers infrastructure and basic services to conflict-affected communities. 

Ok, so 13,633 were supporters and actual combatants. How many were actual former combatants? That breakdown is important and as has been shown on this blog previously, the government does not make the distinction when reporting surrenders and neutralizations. 

The NTF-ELCAC also says the CPP's badmouthing of the amnesty program is a diversionary tactic to cover up its slow demise. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271315

A ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Wednesday said it is now standard practice for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to badmouth government programs designed for its former members to hide their declining influence.

NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., in a statement, made this comment after the CPP has once again attempted to discredit the government’s amnesty program by labeling it an “epic fail.”

And in making this claim, Torres said the CPP highlighted its growing desperation as its members and supporters continue to choose peace over violence.

"The Amnesty Program is a voluntary, lawful process. No one is forced to apply—individuals come forward on their own, acknowledge past involvement, and submit to a verified legal process. If this program were truly a failure, there would be no applicants. Yet thousands have stepped forward nationwide, embracing peace and reintegration," he added.

Data coming from the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) showed that a total of 13,633 former members and supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) have availed of the Amnesty Program within the March 13 deadline.

Unable to deny these facts, Torres said the CPP resorted to familiar tactics like delegitimizing those who choose peace and dismissing their testimonies.

"Former rebels have provided sworn statements detailing their roles within the CPP-NPA—accounts that withstand scrutiny and contradict the CPP’s narrative," he added.

Torres also said the amnesty process also reveals that more and more former CPP-NPA are choosing peace, dignity and a future with their families.

"At its core, the CPP’s criticism is a defensive reaction to its own declining influence. The Amnesty Program provides what the armed movement fears most—a lawful and dignified exit for those who no longer believe in violence," Torres said.

"What the CPP dismisses as failure is in fact a quiet victory: the steady return of Filipinos to their communities, and the government’s unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and inclusive development," he added.

Torres said the real “epic fail” is not the desire for peace but the CPP’s outdated and violent ideology.

The NTF-ELCAC official also took this opportunity to dismiss the CPP's claims that development programs like the Barangay Development Program (BDP) are tools of corruption.

"In reality, the BDP delivers tangible progress—roads, schools, water systems, electricity, and livelihoods—to long-neglected communities. These are not sources of corruption but instruments of genuine change, implemented through transparent government processes," he added.

Here is the CPP's statement in full.

https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/marcos-sham-amnesty-program-is-an-epic-fail-cpp/

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today said the two-year amnesty application of the Marcos government and its so-called National Amnesty Commission (NAC) is an epic failure, and nothing more but a hollow public spectacle. The NAC concluded its amnesty application period yesterday, March 13, claiming to have received thousands of applications from “former rebels and supporters” of the revolutionary movement.

“Marcos’ amnesty program failed to deceive the Party, the masses and their revolutionary forces,” said Marco L. Valbuena, the Party’s Chief Information Officer. He lambasted the NAC’s figures asserting that most of the supposed applicants were ordinary peasants and poor civilians deceived and coerced into surrendering and applying for amnesty.

Valbuena added that only a handful of “counterrevolutionary traitors,” who now serve as collaborators of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the National Task Force (NTF)-Elcac, took part in the program. “These renegade traitors are utterly despicable for accepting ‘amnesty’ from the fascists at the expense of betraying the national and democratic aspirations of the Filipino people and the memory of their martyrs,” he added.

Since Marcos’ issuance of Proclamation No. 404 in November 2023, the CPP has consistently rejected what it calls a fake and self-serving amnesty scheme. “The revolutionary movement remains determined to advance the armed struggle to end imperialist domination, tyranny, corruption, and oppression under the Marcos regime,” Valbuena affirmed.

He further noted that the government’s amnesty campaign, combined with its militarist approach, has failed to weaken the revolution’s resolve. “Genuine and lasting peace can only be achieved by addressing the roots of the armed conflict—widespread social injustice and the lack of genuine national sovereignty,” Valbuena stressed.

Valbuena also criticized the administration for turning the amnesty program into another source of corruption. The regime spent millions in public funds to establish so-called local amnesty boards. “In relation with this amnesty charade, hundreds of millions, if not a few billion pesos were allotted for unaudited “barangay development programs”, lining the pockets of bureaucrats and military officers,” he said.

“Marcos is mistaken in the belief that state terrorism can snuff out the people’s aspirations and kill their resistance,” Valbuena said. “Every day that military and police forces employ armed might, the more that people are roused to defend their rights and livelihood and driven to take up arms in resistance.”

He concluded that the amnesty program “ended up as nothing more than a useless piece of paper.”

Make of that what you will but when one report says 11,000 applied and other says 13,663 applied, and the government refuses to breakdown how many applicants were actual fighters and how many were mere supporters, Valbuena has a point. He also say the government "has failed to weaken the revolution’s resolve." That's why the fighting continues. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271205

The Philippine Army has intensified its hunt against fleeing rebels in Northern Samar after Monday’s brief armed encounter with insurgents in the mountain of Gamay, Northern Samar.

The Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) has directed its units to continue pursuit operations to stop the armed group from engaging in further extortion and other illegal activities that could threaten communities in the province.

“The 8ID reaffirmed its commitment to sustain focused military operations while working closely with local government units, stakeholders, and communities to maintain peace and security in Eastern Visayas,” the Army said in a statement Tuesday.

The 8ID issued a statement after a firefight with 10 members of the communist New People’s Army in Barangay Lonoy, Gamay town on Monday. The encounter reportedly lasted about 5 minutes before the armed group retreated.

According to the military, the operation was launched after local farmers reported alleged extortion by suspected rebel members in nearby communities. Acting on this information, troops conducted verification and security operations to safeguard residents and address the reported threats.

After the encounter, government troops recovered a .45 caliber pistol, a short magazine for an M16 rifle, and several personal belongings believed to have been abandoned by the fleeing rebels.

The 8ID also reiterated their call for remaining NPA members to surrender and take advantage of the government’s reintegration and livelihood programs instead of continuing armed struggle.

Those rebels may be fleeing but they are definitely not surrendering. 

Meanwhile, in the BARMM, the MILF has temporarily suspended all peace engagements with the government. 

 https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/17/milf-temporarily-suspends-peace-engagements-with-govt

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has temporarily suspended all engagements related to the implementation of the peace agreement following the resignation of the government peace panel chief. 

In a statement, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim urged the government to designate a duly mandated peace panel chairman, adding that the implementation of the peace agreement is supposed to be a “dance that was meant for two.” 

Ebrahim said the reported resignation of government peace panel chief Cesar Yano left a gaping hole in the implementation of the peace agreement at this very crucial stage in the transition period. 

“The importance of the MILF peace implementing panel's government counterpart cannot be countenanced. Hence, in the exercise of prudence, the MILF deems it appropriate to declare a temporary pause in several aspects of engagement under the peace implementation mechanisms until a full- fledged chairman of the GPH peace implementing panel is appointed,” he said.

With the resignation of Yano, the MILF peace implementing panel cannot negotiate and engage with a headless counterpart, the MILF chairman added. 

Peace implementation mechanisms may not be able to proceed as they were designed to function through officially mandated representatives of both parties, said Ebrahim.

The MILF peace panel has been chaired by Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal since 2003. 

“In the absence of a formally designated chair of the GPH peace implementing panel, the MILF finds itself unable to proceed with substantive engagements that require formal commitments and authoritative decisions,” Ebrahim said.

The MILF assured that the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and Ad Hoc Joint Action Group shall continue to function and address any infraction of tranquility on the ground.

Ebrahim added that this move is for the protection of the fragile peace and security already achieved. 

“On the side of the MILF peace mechanisms led by the MILF peace implementing panel, it shall continue to engage local, national, and international friends of the peace process on matters not requiring jointness, mutuality, and bilateralism with those mechanisms from the GPH,” he said. 

The MILF is hoping that the government will designate a new peace panel chief to enable the shared work of completing the implementation of the CAB to proceed with clarity, certainty, and renewed momentum. 

“Such appointment will help restore the normal functioning of the established mechanisms and enable the parties to address pending matters in a timely and constructive manner,” Ebrahim said.

The peace deal encountered another stumbling block as the government and the MILF commemorate the 12th year of signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on March 17. 

Last year, the MILF unilaterally suspended the decommissioning of the remaining 14,000 combatants until the government substantially complies with the provisions of the Annex on Normalization in the peace agreement the two parties signed in 2014. 

The MILF barred its officials and commanders from attending activities related to decommissioning. 

The first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections was moved multiple times, prompting some peace monitors to issue a warning that the peace deal is on the brink of collapse due to unresolved issues. 

How can the MILF work with the government when their mediator is gone? The OPAPRU says they should press ahead anyway but does not address their concerns. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271374

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) called on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to continue engaging with the government on the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

"We encourage our MILF brothers and sisters to continue walking this path with us, as the peace process is a living testament of our partnership. We believe that the spirit of the CAB, rooted in the principles of jointness, bilateralism, and mutuality, is best honored by keeping the wheels of implementation turning," OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a statement late Wednesday.

Likewise, Galvez said the OPAPRU recognizes the concerns raised by the MILF leadership but noted that they must never lose sight of the people whose lives depend on the implementation of the peace process.

"We must remember that the CAB is more than just a peace accord. It is a sacred peace covenant. Every 'temporary pause' translates into a day of uncertainty for the former combatants, their families, and the communities currently undergoing the transformation process," he added.

He said these are the individuals who have sacrificed the most and rightfully deserve immediate and continuous assistance from the national and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) governments and other peace stakeholders, especially in these difficult and trying times.

"The gains we have achieved, particularly under the Normalization Track, are far too precious to be stalled. It is our firm belief that the momentum of our peacebuilding efforts must be sustained, and in fact, must be accelerated in light of the upcoming first BARMM parliamentary elections," he said.

Galvez said they remain confident that their shared aspirations for a just and durable peace will overcome these temporary challenges.

"For the sake of the Bangsamoro people and the future of our nation, let us move forward together with renewed urgency, determination, and heart," he added.

Galvez also acknowledged the recent statement from the MILF Central Committee, which cited the “positive” role of the peace agency in facilitating the government’s deliverables under the CAB.

"Under the steadfast leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the OPAPRU remains unwavering in its commitment to pushing forward and building on the dividends of peace in the Bangsamoro," he said.

Galvez also said that OPAPRU’s mandate, which is to “manage, direct, integrate, and supervise the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Process,” serves as a guide and has kept us on track amid the challenges that have come our way in fostering peace and development across the region.

The OPAPRU, he said, is in charge of implementing the government’s overall peace policy agenda, while the Government Peace Implementing Panel (GPIP) is tasked to serve as the bridge between the government and the MILF, particularly to “conduct direct negotiations, dialogues and discussions” with the MILF under Executive Order 158 series of 2021.

Galvez said the OPAPRU continues to support the GPIP as it undertakes the arduous tasks of implementing the CAB.

He added that the selection of the GPIP leadership is an internal government process, but it should not affect the work of the peace mechanisms or the efforts of all stakeholders working for peace in the Bangsamoro.

If the OPAPRU is in charge of implementing the peace program then the MILF should have no issue at all. So, what's the real deal? Don't forget the MILF has already frozen the decommission program. Is the dissolution of the peace process and the BARMM just around the riverbend?

Insurgency: Historic Insurgency-Free Milestone

The Philippine Army's 10th Infantry Division has declared their territory is now insurgency free. Their area covers the Davao Region which includes 84 cities and municipalities. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/amp/story/davao/10id-marks-historic-insurgency-free-milestone

THE Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division (10ID) has declared all 84 cities and municipalities under its operational coverage insurgency-free, a milestone that makes the unit the first infantry division in the Philippines to achieve the status, officials said.

The declaration covers areas across the Davao Region and parts of Sarangani, North Cotabato, and Bukidnon, regions that for decades experienced communist insurgency activities.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by Major Ruben Gadut, 10ID spokesperson, during a Davao Peace and Security Press Corps conference at The Royal Mandaya Hotel.

“Technically speaking, all areas under 10ID are now insurgency-free,” Gadut said. “Based on available military data, this appears to make the division the first in the country to declare its entire area of responsibility free from insurgent influence.”

Gadut cited key municipalities cleared of insurgent presence. In Sarangani, these include Malapatan, Glan, Alabel, and Malungon. In Bukidnon, the declaration covers Kibawe, Damulog, Dangcagan, San Fernando, Kitaotao, Maramag, Quezon, and Valencia City. 

In North Cotabato, Antipas and Kidapawan City were among those recognized as insurgency-free.

The declaration reflects years of sustained counterinsurgency operations against the New People’s Army (NPA), which had long maintained guerrilla fronts across parts of Mindanao. Security officials said the achievement builds on earlier milestones in the region.

On March 24, 2022, Davao City was declared insurgency-free after 10ID reported the dismantling of the NPA’s Sub-Regional Committee 5, which had operated in areas surrounding the city. In the months that followed, other provinces issued similar declarations: Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro in June 2022; Davao del Sur in July; Davao Occidental in August; and Davao Oriental in September. These milestones paved the way for the Regional Peace and Order Council to formally declare the entire Davao Region insurgency-free on October 12, 2022.

Progress in Bukidnon, which is partly under 10ID’s operational jurisdiction, unfolded more gradually. Several municipalities achieved insurgency-free status in phases between 2023 and 2025. Notable milestones included Valencia City, declared insurgency-free in October 2025, making it the first city in Northern Mindanao to earn the recognition. Earlier, in March 2025, Kitaotao, a municipality along the Bukidnon–Davao boundary long considered strategic for insurgent operations, was cleared of communist rebels.

The 10ID oversees security operations across a large portion of southern Mindanao, including parts of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Davao Region, Sarangani, North Cotabato, and Bukidnon.

Despite the insurgency-free declaration, Gadut said the military will maintain its presence in the affected areas to ensure that security gains are sustained. Brigade-sized units remain ready for deployment should threats or sabotage attempts arise. He added that coordination with local officials continues, with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) working closely with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units to maintain stability.

Authorities also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to prevent a resurgence of insurgent groups.

Military officials said the declaration forms part of the government’s broader strategy to stabilize historically conflict-affected areas of Mindanao, strengthen community security, and create conditions conducive to economic development and investment in the region.

Technically speaking?? What does that mean? The military will maintain a presence to prevent a resurgence? Huh? I thought it was insurgency free?  As we shall see insurgency free does not mean zero insurgents.

The AFP has given another update as to how many Reds and supporters have surrendered since the beginning of the year. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1270807

Around 413 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and their supporters were reported “neutralized” by government troops from Jan. 1 to March 5, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said late Tuesday afternoon.

In an interview with reporters, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said out of the 413 communist insurgents and supporters “neutralized,” 398 opted to surrender, while seven were captured and nine were killed in military operations.

"Neutralized" is a military term which refers to the surrender, capture, or killing of enemy troops.

“That tells us that sustained pressure, combined with reintegration programs and development initiatives, is creating a pathway - away from the armed struggle,” she said.

“And when more individuals choose reintegration over conflict, it means the security landscape is gradually stabilizing,” she added.

For the same period, around 234 assorted firearms were either seized or captured from communist insurgents along with 68 anti-personnel mines and 14 camps.

Last year, the military said its units have neutralized 2,018 NPA members and supporters from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025. Of this number, 1,798 have surrendered with 93 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)," the AFP said. It also added that a total of 149 NPA encampments were also captured from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of last year. 

But they don't break down the numbers between actual NPA members and mere supporters so once again the number is worthless to gauging the strength of the communist insurgency. 

The amnesty application date is drawing nigh and in Bicol 700 former rebels have applied.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1270798

A total of 719 former rebels in the Bicol Region have applied for the government amnesty program, according to the Local Amnesty Board Secretariat of the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) on Wednesday.

Philipp Listanco, NAC regional director, urged eligible former and active rebels to apply before the deadline on Friday (March 13).

"When applying for amnesty, all you need is yourself and any valid identification card. That is all we require. But the decision to apply for amnesty must come from the person," he said in an interview.

"We are not forcing anyone. We continuously encourage them so they can decide for themselves. They must decide on their own that they want to ask for forgiveness from the government so they can have a second chance to live a happy life in our country."

Listanco said that as of the latest count, the nationwide total has reached about 11,000 applications.

He added that the government has so far approved 16 amnesty applications. Of this number, 15 were granted to members of the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People's Army–National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in Mindanao, while one was granted to a commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

"Our hope is strong, and the chances of approval are high, but at this moment we are focused on the last days of the application period," he said.

The government's amnesty program is intended for former rebels who have legal cases related to acts committed in pursuit of their political beliefs. Qualified applicants may be granted amnesty, allowing them to reintegrate into mainstream society without prosecution for their past offenses.

Listanco said the commission has already requested an extension of the application period.

It seems the insurgency is dying and defeated. But hold on. That may only be government propaganda. The South China Morning Post has a lengthy article about the subject. 

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345929/philippines-says-its-communist-rebels-are-defeated-are-they

The mountains of the Philippines are quieter now.

The jungle bases that once sustained Asia’s longest-running communist insurgency are mostly emptied out. Its tens of thousands of guerrilla fighters have been reduced, by the military’s account, to something “very, very negligible”.

After 56 years, the Philippine military thinks the fight is almost over – and that conviction is transforming the armed forces from the inside out.

Commanders are overhauling training and strategy, moving away from the small-unit counter-insurgency missions that defined five decades of jungle warfare. The enemy they are preparing for now is not a Maoist guerrilla in the hills.

Officials say this shift is only possible because the New People’s Army (NPA) – the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines – is a spent force.

Not everyone believes it.

Military officials announced the dismantling of the final NPA guerrilla front last month.

A “front” is not merely a band of fighters. It is, according to Philippine Army commander Lieutenant General Antonio Gustilo Nafarrete, a self-contained structure combining armed combatants, political leadership and a civilian support “mass base”.

Dismantling the last one, in the military’s view, marks the end of the NPA as an organised territorial force.

“We’re already near the finish line,” Nafarrete said on February 16. He declined to give a figure for the NPA’s current strength but said it was “very, very negligible”.

I must have missed the fact that the last guerrilla front was dismantled last month. I try to stay on top of the news but this slipped by somehow. Regardless, that doesn't meant the NPA has been defeated. 

The strategic implications are already being felt in training priorities. “Training and capability build-up will be more on large-scale operations,” Nafarrete said.

“Before, we used to do small unit exercises because of our ISO [internal security operations], but now we are already doing brigade to division-size operations in consonance with our territorial defence operations.”

He was careful to add that hard-won ground would not be abandoned. Even as the army pivoted outward, “the position of our forces will stay the same”, Nafarrete said.

“We want to sustain the gains.”

What is this talk about sustaining the gains? Either they are defeated or they aren't. 

To truly appreciate how dramatically the NPA has contracted, it helps to remember how formidable it once was.

At its height in the mid-1980s, during the dying years of Ferdinand Marcos Snr’s dictatorship, the communist rebellion fielded roughly 20,000 armed guerrillas and claimed the sympathy of more than a million Filipinos.

The movement had grown powerful enough that then defence minister Juan Ponce Enrile conceded publicly in 1986 that communist forces were approaching a point where they could threaten Manila itself.

But there was always more to the insurgency than just the guerrillas in the hills.

In 1973, the Communist Party created the National Democratic Front (NDF), a coalition of leftist organisations straddling the legal and the clandestine, to give the revolution a civilian face.

That structure did its job for a long time. As recently as 2018, party founder Jose Maria Sison claimed, from exile in the Netherlands, that the NPA still operated more than 100 guerrilla fronts across 73 of the Philippines’ 81 provinces, with a party membership of around 100,000

Shortly before his death in exile in 2022, he insisted that the movement would “outlive” him and said it had planted deep-penetration agents inside the military.

The government designated the NDF a terrorist organisation in 2021.

The NDF’s representatives in the Netherlands did not respond to a request for comment from This Week in Asia.

For all its reach, however, the movement never managed to translate this into lasting territorial control. Despite decades of guerrilla warfare from mountain and forest bases, the NPA never held a province, or even a city.

That the NPA never held a province or city is very important. The same cannot be said for the Muslim insurgency.  

Ronald Llamas, a former presidential adviser on political affairs and now chairman of Galahad Consulting Agency, offered a three-part diagnosis of the insurgency’s undoing.

The first was political. “Armed struggle grows or weakens depending on democratic space,” he said. “If there is democratic space, then the logic for armed struggle vanishes.”

As the Philippines consolidated its democratic institutions post-Marcos Snr, the NPA’s core recruiting argument – that the system could not be changed from within – grew steadily harder to sustain.

The second reason was ideological. “Their ideological construct, which is Maoism, isn’t even in China any more,” Llamas said. “The ideology has been dramatically weakened.”

A movement that once drew its legitimacy from a global revolutionary current found itself adrift as that current dried up.

The third is technological – and this has been the most lethal. Satellite imaging, facial recognition software and electronic surveillance have granted the Philippine military a precision it never previously possessed

Suspected NPA chief Benito Tiamzon and his wife Wilma, the communist party’s apparent secretary general, were killed in a military operation in 2022.

For an organisation whose survival depended on secrecy and mobility, the loss of both has proved fatal.

But the insurgency has defied being administered its last rites before.

Satur Ocampo, 86, co-founded the NDF, negotiated its first peace talks with the government and spent more years in a Marcos Snr-era prison cell than any other political detainee.

If anyone has earned a view on whether the insurgency is dying, it’s him. His verdict? It isn’t.

“You can’t say it’s nearly dead,” he told This Week in Asia. “It’s true that they have practically massacred the top leadership some time ago. But a movement like this is rooted in several areas that have been fully cleared. They’ve declared a lot of areas cleared of insurgency. But again, particularly in Negros, there’s a resurgence.”

In a protracted conflict, no one side could unilaterally declare it finished, said Ocampo, who described himself as “a progressive social-political activist since the 1960s”.

“You cannot definitely say [it’s over] until the revolutionary forces declare whether they are giving up or are really wiped out.”

He was candid, too, about the movement’s own costly miscalculation: its misreading of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, who had cultivated ties with the NPA over decades before unleashing an all-out military campaign once in office.

The communists had been “nakuryente”, Ocampo said – fooled. “I realised that this guy is balimbing (a turncoat) with no deeply held principles,” he said.

The logic Duterte offered was simple, if brutal: past friendships had limits. He was now president. The law would be enforced. “It’s no longer the same as before,” Ocampo said.

As for the future, Ocampo’s prognosis was bleak for those hoping that the silence in the hills would hold.

So long as “exploitative and oppressive” conditions persisted – in the countryside, in the mining zones where indigenous communities were being pushed from their land – he said there would be people willing to fight on.

“Particularly the youth,” he said. “Armed, unarmed, legal and underground, then let the course proceed until the issues are resolved.”

Still, Ocampo said the movement would be open to a negotiated peace, if the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr showed any appetite for talks.

The Philippine Communist Party’s Central Committee said in a statement posted to its website on December 26 that conditions were “excellent for further advancing the people’s democratic revolution” – citing a deepening economic crisis, the continuing repression of farmers and factory workers and the militarisation of the countryside.

The movement had “reviewed our experiences and critically identified our weaknesses and errors”, it said.

Even within the Philippine military, there are those who acknowledge that guns can only do so much.

One general who agreed to speak to This Week in Asia on condition of anonymity was frank about his feelings towards the NPA: they had tried to kill him in the southern Philippines and the memory had not faded.

But personal animosity was not a strategy, he said.

“Misgovernance by local government officials is rampant in areas where rebels thrive,” he said. “The military tries to do what it can in fulfilling some of the people’s needs, like drinking water and roads. The military can easily take over governance, but we don’t want to do that. That’s not our constitutional role.”

The solution, he concluded, had to be political.

In the end, it is the one point on which soldier and revolutionary can agree.

The mountains may be quieter now. But silence, as five decades of Philippine history have shown, is not the same as peace – and an insurgency that has already outlasted seven presidents may yet have more patience than the people trying to end it.

It's a rather lengthy article but all one needs to do is cite the AFP who say there will never be a zero insurgency status. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1824876/insurgency-to-end-during-bongbong-marcos-term-says-ano

"We will finish this local armed Communist conflict. And from there, we will support just the developments and we will be certain about the delivery of services."

"What we can see in the term of President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr., finally it will be ended."

National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año made these statements in a briefing in Malacañang, as he talked about the rebellion of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army.

Año admitted insurgency cannot be totally eliminated, but he believes the issue may be brought down to a negligible point.

“While we may not be able to attain this zero insurgents, but at least reduced to an irrelevant number that will not cause concern for peace and order,” he said.

“They will become isolated and just become bandits, because of lost ideology and non-support from the people,” he projected.

The AFP will instead reduce the insurgency to mere bandits. Banditry is still a threat.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/10/p7-m-heavy-equipment-torched-in-himamaylan-city

Authorities are probing the burning of six heavy equipment worth a total of P7 million in a farm in Hacienda Baling, Barangay Libacao, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Sunday, March 8.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Himamaylan reported that three cane loaders and two tractors were completely destroyed while another tractor was partially damaged.

Police investigation revealed that a farm manager conducting a late-night inspection on Sunday noticed a fire starting from a tractor parked near the fuel storage area inside the compound.

The flames quickly spread to nearby agricultural equipment. Firefighters declared fire out at around 1:50 a.m. on Monday, March 9. No injuries were reported.

The New People’s Army (NPA) has claimed responsibility for the burning. They accused the agricultural farm of exploiting farm workers who allegedly are paid very low wages.

Despite this claim, the BFP said it has not yet determined if the incident will be officially classified as arson.

Arson investigators have submitted specimens to the fire laboratory to establish the exact cause of the blaze.

The NPA has taken the blame for burning this equipment. What if they burned down BPO's who also use cheap Filipino labor? Have they ever though of that?

The war against the DI continues as 295 grenades were recovered from an arms cache. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1270890

Government troops recovered 295 grenades from an arms cache believed to be hidden by remnants of the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group (DI-MG) in the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur, the military said Thursday.

Maj. Gen. Yegor Rey Barroquillo Jr., 1st Infantry Division commander, said troops of the Army's 55th Infantry Battalion (55IB) discovered the cache Wednesday in Barangay Piagolongan, Marogong, Lanao del Sur.

"The sheer volume of explosives recovered—nearly 300 hand grenades in a single cache—represents a significant blow to the operational capacity of the threat group in the area," Barroquillo said in a statement.

"Their removal from circulation directly translates to lives protected, communities secured, and the prevention of potential mass casualty attacks," he added.

Barroquillo said the community played a significant role, with their cooperation and trust in the security forces leading to the discovery and recovery of the cache.

"This act of civic courage reflects a meaningful shift in the communities of Lanao del Sur towards a growing preference for peace over the presence of instruments of conflict in their midst," he said.

He commended the 55IB troops and the community for their collective effort, emphasizing that operations of such magnitude are made possible by the trust and cooperation between the military and the people it serves.

Barroquillo said they remain steadfast in their mission to dismantle terrorist networks, recover hidden war materiel, and ensure lasting peace and security in Western Mindanao.

If they have nearly 300 had grenades in secret what do they have in hand!?