The Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Northern Mindanao believes the region can be insurgency free in only 365 days. How you ask?
The Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) in Northern Mindanao is working to make the region insurgency-free within a year, officials said Tuesday.
During the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” forum, Col. Antonio Dulnuan, commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, said achieving this goal requires a “whole-of-nation” approach, with public support to rebuild conflict-affected areas.
“We are doing everything we can, in partnership with all stakeholders,” Dulnuan said.
The RTF-ELCAC’s mandate focuses on encouraging communist rebels to surrender and providing them with opportunities for reintegration.
One such initiative is the provision of affordable socialized housing through the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
DHSUD 10 (Northern Mindanao) Director Ariel Abragan said former rebels, referred to as “friends rescued,” are eligible for housing programs under the National Housing Authority.
“We can see that our whole-of-nation approach is effective in deterring the youth from joining armed activities,” Abragan said.
Yvette Sunga, assistant director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 10, highlighted the RTF-ELCAC’s collaboration with various agencies, creating a harmonized working environment that extends to barangay levels.
The task force’s efforts aim to address the root causes of insurgency and promote sustainable peace and development in the region.
By providing affordable housing to former rebels, I mean "friends rescued." Referring to these violent terrorists as "friends rescued" is quite disingenuous. Just ask the army.
Three suspected communist rebels were killed in a series of armed encounters between the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) and New People’s Army (NPA) in Mapanas, Northern Samar on Sunday, March 16.
The initial clash occurred around 6 a.m. in Barangay San Jose when troops from the 4thScout Ranger Battalion (4SRBn) encountered an undetermined number of armed men believed to be members of the Regional Guerrilla Unit (RGU) of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC), according to Major General Adonis Ariel Orio, commander of 8ID.
He said the troops recovered the body of one NPA fighter, an M14 rifle, an anti-personnel mine, two blasting caps and other personal belongings at the encounter site. The rebels fled after that.
However, after a short chase, the 4SRBn again engaged the same group in a gun-battle which led to the death of another rebel and recovery of an M16 rifle and assorted ammunition.
The remaining rebels again attempted to escape but they were met by blocking forces of the 4SRBn, to which a third firefight erupted that lasted for 10 minutes.
The final clash happened around 10 a.m. as pursuing forces from the 4SRBn encountered the fleeing enemies, which resulted in one more fatality on the NPA’s side. The troops also seized two more rifles, ammunition, backpacks, and other war materiel.
Orio said residents in the community were eager to help the government in eradicating the scourge of communist insurgency in Samar.
“The Philippine Army has repeatedly called on and appealed to the remaining members of the CTGs [communist-terrorist groups] to surrender. However, due to their continued violations and threats to our community, we cannot allow the entire region to suffer,” he stated.
The 8ID chief said troops were scouring the mountains of Northern Samar to find the escaped communist rebels.
He urged them to surrender to the authorities instead of exchanging bullets with the soldiers. He said that government troops are “willing to help those who want to surrender and live a new and peaceful life with their families.”
Not so friendly when they are shooting at you, are they.
The army says the death of those 3 NPA rebels is a big blow to the remnants in Northern Samar.
The death of three members of the New People’s Army (NPA) during a series of clashes on March 16 in Mapanas, Northern Samar is a big blow to the communist movement in Northern Samar province, considered the last bastion of insurgency in Eastern Visayas.
Lt. Col. Joemar Buban, assistant chief of staff of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division’s Civil Military Operations, said two of the slain combatants have been identified, and the other one is believed to be a ranking leader of the armed group.
“They are remnants of the NPA regional guerrilla unit and front committee 15. There are only a few of them, and they are scattered in Northern Samar. The death of their three members will further diminish their strength,” Buban said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas press briefing Tuesday.
The two slain rebels were identified as Ronnie Pajares, alias Badora, from Eastern Samar, and Edmon Oros, alias Dalisay, from Lapinig, Northern Samar. The identity of the third rebel remains unknown and is still in the process of thorough identification, Buban said.
The initial clash, which claimed the life of a rebel, occurred around 6 a.m. Sunday in upland San Jose village in Mapanas town when troops encountered a band of rebels. Soldiers seized an M14 rifle, a banned anti-personnel mine, two blasting caps, and other personal belongings.
Minutes after the first encounter, troopers engaged the same group attempting to evade government forces. The encounter killed another combatant and led to the recovery of an M16 rifle and assorted ammunition.
Hours after the second encounter, the blocking forces encountered the evading rebels. After the 10-minute firefight, soldiers recovered two backpacks.
Before noon on the same day, another team of soldiers encountered the fleeing enemy, resulting in the death of another NPA member and the seizure of one M14 rifle, one M4 rifle, ammunition, and other war materiel.
“The encounter ensued after villagers provided information to the military about a group of armed men who were seen conducting extortion activities in their community. This is proof that NPA members are not getting support from their previously influenced communities,” Buban added.
As of end-February, there are only 119 remaining armed NPA members in Eastern Visayas.
Their number significantly dwindled between 2019 and 2024 due to focused military operations and interventions by member agencies of the task force to end local communist armed conflict.
The AFP claims there are only 119 armed NPA rebels remaining in the Eastern Visayas. That is a drop of 76% in the past six years.
The number of active members of the New People’s Army (NPA) has declined by around 76 percent as of this month to 119 from 499 in 2019 due to institutionalization of the national and local task forces to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC).
Losses incurred by the communist movement is a result of joint ELCAC efforts of different national government agencies and local government units, Lt. Col. Joemar Buban, assistant chief of staff for civil-military operations of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division said in a phone interview Thursday.
In the past six years, this campaign resulted in 461 combat engagements, neutralization of 791 NPA members, seizure of 1,124 firearms, discovery of 620 NPA hideouts, and recovery of 703 anti-personnel mines from Jan. 1, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2024, he said.
The dismantling of NPA front committees prompted some 13,862 members of different left-leaning groups to withdraw their support, with around 1,982 of them renouncing their membership from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), 7,625 pulling out their support, and 4,255 conceded memberships from underground mass organizations (UGMOs).
The CPP-NPA established UGMOs inside open sectoral organizations and open alliances to advance and support their armed atrocities and terrorist activities.
“We already reached the cross over point where the rate of neutralization surpassed the rate of recruitment. We are already on finishing touches although there are still remnants in the mountains of the region,” Buban added.
Buban pointed out that their focus is not only on military actions but also extends to addressing the root causes of the insurgency.
He noted that the region attained six percent Gross Regional Domestic Product growth between 2021 to 2023 as a result of peace efforts.
In Northern Negros the AFP says they have halted the NPA from regrouping after seizing weapons following a clash.
Philippine Army troopers from the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) has prevented insurgents from regrouping in northern Negros and seized weapons from New People’s Army (NPA) remnants following a clash in Toboso, Negros Occidental.
In a report on Wednesday, the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) said the 79IB soldiers engaged at least seven remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front (NNF) in Sitio Bairan, Barangay General Luna Tuesday morning.
After the encounter, the troops recovered various weapons that include an M16 assault rifle, caliber 38mm revolver, firearm magazines and assorted ammunition, along with food items, personal belongings, and subversive documents.
“The fight against insurgency continues, but our efforts are not solely focused on military action. We extend a hand of peace. Lay down your arms, choose a different path,” 3ID commander Maj. Gen. Michael Samson said in a statement.
The clash in Toboso came after 79IB troops encountered NNF remnants in the hinterlands of Cadiz City on March 8, resulting in the death of two leaders of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor –Hans Ponteras, acting regional front secretary and finance officer of the Regional Taxation Implementing Group, and regional communications officer Marissa Pobresa.
No word on how many NPA are left in Northern Negros.
In Samar two minors were rescued after a clash with the NPA.
Military and local government officials in Samar province denounced the New People’s Army (NPA) over attempts to recruit minors.
This, after two unarmed female minors were identified and rescued during a clash between government troopers and the rebels in San Jose de Buan town on March 14.
The minors, both 14 years old, were identified under the aliases Jean and Mae. They were handed over to the municipal social welfare and development office and taken to a hospital for psychological support and intervention following the traumatic incident.
Government troops recovered at the encounter site a .45-caliber pistol, a magazine, an improvised homemade firearm, two cellular phones, documents detailing recruitment plans, and other personal belongings.
In a statement Friday, San Jose de Buan town Mayor Joaquin Elizalde said he is saddened that NPA rebels exploit children and recruit them as child warriors and laborers.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that children’s rights are protected and respected. Let us work together to create a place where children can grow up safely, securely, and with dignity,” he said.
Philippine Army 801st Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Lenart Lelina said the recruitment of minors by the communist movement is a proof that their numbers are dwindling.
“With the loss of membership over the years, the NPA resort to recruiting young minds, knowing they can easily be exploited,” he explained.
But don't forget the AFP has claimed the NPA is incapable to carry out large scale attacks, recruit, or do anything significant. That is apparently not the case as the Army is also wanting about NPA extortion.
The Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) is urging communities in Negros Island to reject any form of extortion by the New People’s Army (NPA) to completely eliminate their illegal activity following the death of the rebels’ regional finance officer, Hans Pontreras.
While the neutralization of Ponteras weakened the financial backbone of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (KR-NCBS), the Army said NPA remnants could still be capable of conducting extortion activities, particularly in northern Negros.
“We call for a united action. We urge business owners, local leaders, and other communities to reject any form of NPA extortion and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities,” 79IB commander Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan said in a statement on Monday.
He stressed that putting a stop to the extortion racket of the KR-NCBS is “a huge win for peace and security in the region.”
“Without funds and leaders, their operations crumble, and the communities they once terrorized can finally thrive without fear,” he added.
In an interview, 79IB civil-military operations officer 1Lt. Dan Carlo Samoza said the NPA is actually an organized crime group that uses their so-called ideology to deceive people.
“These are bandits that we are confronting and that while there are remnants, there is a possibility that extortion will continue,” he said.
Ponteras, 48, who died in a clash with 79IB soldiers in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental on March 8, had served as the KR-NCBS acting regional front secretary and finance officer of the unit’s Regional Taxation Implementing Group.
According to the 79IB, he was the author and signatory of extortion letters and death notes distributed under the codename “Armando Magbanua” of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command, the main NPA unit operating in Negros Island.
However, intelligence operations and testimonies from former rebels revealed that “Armando Magbanua” is not a single person but a pseudonym systematically used by the finance officer of the KR-NCBS for extortion activities.
Such practice served a dual purpose -- to maintain secrecy and to instill a continuous sense of threat, regardless of who occupied the role, the 79IB said.
In February, 79IB soldiers recovered extortion letters addressed to some sugar planters and businessmen after a clash with NPA remnants also in the hinterlands of Cadiz City.
The NPA still poses a threat even if they are weakened.
The AFP has given an update on how many NPA rebels have been neutralized since the beginning of the year.
More than 200 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and their supporters have been “neutralized” since January this year, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla gave this number.
She also called on NPA members to surrender and “take advantage of government reintegration and amnesty programs.”
The military labels the NPA a communist terrorist group (CTG).
“A total of 242 communist terrorist group members and supporters were neutralized, from which 206 surrendered, 17 were apprehended, and 19 were killed in military operations,” Padilla said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
She added that 159 firearms were also seized from or surrendered by these rebels.
For former members of NPA who opt to apply to the government’s amnesty program, Padilla said the application is open until 2026
“The doors of peace are open only until next year, and we encourage those who remain to take the path of peace,” she said.
The Philippine Army earlier explained that the amnesty program serves as a means to encourage NPA members to abandon their armed struggle, knowing they will be pardoned with all of their criminal cases dismissed.
The government initiative is backed by Proclamations No. 403, 404, 405, and 406 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in November last year.
These proclamations grant amnesty to individuals who committed crimes in pursuit of political beliefs, whether under the Revised Penal Code or special penal laws.
In December last year, Padilla reported that the NPA had only one “weakened” guerrilla front left and that it was no longer capable of “staging major operations.”
Padilla noted that the ‘weakened’ unit refers to a group that can no longer implement programs like recruitment and generate resources to support their members’ armed struggle.
But once again, how many of these people are actual rebels and how many are merely supporters? How many actual rebels are left?
In the Eastern Visayas 433 ex-rebels have applied for amnesty.
The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) already received applications from 433 former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Visayas since December 2024, an official said Tuesday.
Of the 433 amnesty applications received, 334 are being processed by the Local Amnesty Board (LAB) in Catbalogan City for Samar Island, while 99 have been applied in Tacloban City LAB for Leyte Island.
During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas press briefing at the Hotel Alejandro here, NAC chairperson Leah Tanodra-Armamento said amnesty is a big step towards community reintegration of former rebels, whose lives were shattered by decades of armed struggle against the government.
“Through amnesty, the government is giving them an opportunity to make their lives better. We hope that the services and benefits offered by the government for their reintegration will become enough reason for them to stay within the community,” Armamento told reporters.
Crimes classified as acts of rebellion fall under amnesty coverage, while private offenses such as rape are excluded.
These applications go through several offices, including the National Bureau of Investigation, before undergoing verification to confirm that crimes outside the scope of amnesty are not pardoned, according to the official.
Armamento said these applicants are being monitored by LABs, may receive security measures based on the nature and number of their offenses, and are assured that their benefits will be properly processed.
Among the government benefits extended to former rebels include financial assistance, livelihood programs, educational scholarships for children, and government health insurance membership.
The LABs serve as frontline offices tasked with receiving applications from interested parties. They also conduct various information, education, and communication campaigns to raise awareness about the amnesty program, ultimately increasing the number of applications.
Meanwhile in the South the Islamic insurgency is flaring up. There was a clash between DI and the AFP in Maguindanao del Norte.
Soldiers killed four members of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Hasan Group in an encounter in Barira, Maguindanao del Norte on Monday morning, March 17.
The 6th Marine Company of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 2, along with the 65th Force Reconnaissance Company and Force Reconnaissance Group, were patrolling Sitio Palao, Barangay Barira when they encountered the group led by alias Alpha King.
A five-minute encounter erupted where four DI members were killed. No casualties were reported on the government side.
The military said three of the fatalities have been identified and their bodies have been claimed by relatives.
Lt. Col. Roden Orbon, spokesperson of the 6th Infantry Division, said war materials were recovered.
Soldiers are conducting clearing operations and preparing for possible retaliatory attacks.
And two DI bomb experts were arrested in Maguindnao Sur.
Government forces on Monday arrested two suspected local terrorists, who are said to be bomb-making experts, and seized from them high-powered firearms, explosives, and other war materiel during a joint police and military law enforcement operation in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao del Sur.
Lieutenant Colonel Loqui Marco, commanding officer of the Army’s 90th Infantry Battalion, said police and Army soldiers launched the operation in Barangay Kapinpilan that resulted in the arrest of Ali Kamsa and Justine Balugagosa, both members of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan Group.
Marco said both suspects are known to be highly skilled in fabricating improvised explosive devices (IEDs), who are listed in the Army’s order of battle as of last year.
When police and military forces served the warrant of arrest against Kamsa, he did not resist.
Government forces seized from them six assault rifles, two IEDs, ammunition, and a hand tractor they used in transporting war materiel.
The two suspected terrorists are now under police custody while the seized war materiel are kept by the 90th Infantry Battalion.
That the AFP is preparing for retaliatory attacks from the DI shows they too remain a threat.
