Catarman, the capital city of Northern Samar, has finally been delcared insurgency-free.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1261464 |
The town of Catarman in Northern Samar on Tuesday was officially declared under a Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) condition, signifying its status as “insurgency-free” after years of peace-building efforts.
The declaration recognizes the town’s success in achieving lasting peace and order through the efforts of the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) led by Mayor Dianne Rosales.
“This SIPS declaration is not the end but a new beginning — a pledge to preserve and give importance to the peace that we have achieved,” Rosales said during the declaration ceremony.
Lt. Col. Jayson Que, commander of the Philippine Army’s 43rd Infantry Battalion, said the declaration is the result of strong collaboration among the local government, security forces, and residents, adding that the challenge now is to sustain the peace that has been achieved.
The ceremony’s highlight was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Catarman local government, the Philippine Army, and the Philippine National Police, symbolizing their shared commitment to maintaining peace and security.
A symbolic release of white doves and the signing of the wall of commitment capped the event, reflecting the unity of local officials, barangay leaders, and citizens in preserving stability and promoting development in the municipality.
Catarman, the provincial capital of Northern Samar, is the most populous town in the province with nearly 98,000 residents.
It seems they always release white doves when they have a ceremony declaring an area insurgency free.
Elsewhere in Matuguinao Samar, 124 NPA allies have renounced their ties to the insurgency.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1261745 |
A total of 124 allies of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Matuguinao, Samar have pledged allegiance to the Philippine government in a ceremony that signified a renewed commitment to peace and progress in the province.
Members of the NPA’s Batakang Organisasyong Pampartido (BOP) and Yunit Milisya (YM) have formally withdrawn their support to the communist movement through a ceremony on Friday.
The event gathered local government officials, military and police officers, and community representatives who celebrated what they described as a milestone for lasting peace in the area.
Mayor Aran Boller led the ceremony, underscoring the local government’s sustained efforts to help former rebels reintegrate into mainstream society.
“This declaration marks more than just an event — it is a renewed commitment to live in harmony, trust our government, and build a stronger, safer, and more progressive Matuguinao,” Boller said, adding that the local government remains steadfast in providing programs that promote livelihood and community development.
During the ceremony, the former BOP and YM members took their oath of allegiance to the Philippine government, publicly denouncing the communist group. Many of them expressed optimism about starting anew and contributing to peace and development efforts in their communities.
YM is utilized as immediate reinforcement in conducting tactical offensives. Equipped with low-powered firearms, its members are also tasked to monitor the movements and activities of government forces.
BOP, on the other hand, functions as a mass organization supporting the NPA. It support rebels by forming a mass base in communities, providing political and logistical support, and influence public opinion.
Boller described the event as “a symbol of renewed trust and shared purpose,” adding, “there’s no need for fighting anymore because we now have a government that cares for the people.”
Matuguinao is a fifth-class town in Samar province with a population of over 7,000 people. The town is 105 km. from Tacloban City, the regional capital.
While it was a big event they do not appear to have released doves.
The AFP has been inconsistnet when it comes to NPA recruitment. First they say there is no leadership and thus no ability to recruit. Then they say they are recruiting in schools. Now they are saying the youth have no interest in being recruited by the NPA.
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| https://smninewschannel.com/cpp-npa-ndf-completely-lost-meaning-influence-among-youths-afp/ |
The Armed Forces of the Philippines assured that the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front has completely lost its meaning and influence.
According to the AFP, aside from the collapse of their guerrilla fronts, no youth from universities and state colleges are being recruited anymore.
‘’And that one is already set to be formally released to be declared zero weakened guerrilla fronts. This means there are only very few of them left, which is why they are considered weakened. With these statistics, they can hardly recruit new members to their ranks and no longer receive significant support. In fact, the support now leans toward the government,” AFP Spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said.
According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the ideology carried by the CPP-NPA-NDF— which deceived thousands of young people more than five decades ago—no longer holds relevance in the present time.
AFP Spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla stated that the remaining influence of the group is gradually fading, as their numbers continue to decline due to the successive surrender of members and the dismantling of their organizations in rural areas.
The AFP also said that the government’s intensified campaign against recruitment in schools and various sectors of society has greatly contributed to the downfall of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
‘’Once we declare an area as insurgency-free, the AFP will continue to maintain forces to preserve the peace we have achieved. This is where our coordination and collaboration with other agencies to maintain this — with the NTF-ELCAC, the OPAPRU, and all other agencies working together on this effort,’’ she added.
Aside from the mentioned agencies, the Commission on Higher Education, student councils, and parents are also working together — resulting in a decline in the number of young people being enticed by the CPP-NPA-NDF’s propaganda.
Meanwhile, AFP Spokesperson Padilla also emphasized the alleged false information being spread by the CPP-NPA-NDF to create the impression that their organization’s operations are still ongoing.
‘’Our main emphasis is on misinformation and disinformation. Even if they are no longer so — and this is exactly what we are countering at this time. That’s why our call is for everyone to unite and help prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation,’’ she added.
If there is no more recruitment of the youth by the NPA because of "the collapse of their guerrilla fronts" then it shouldn't be an issue. However, the issue of NPA recruitment in schools will likely be raised again.
The NPA, though it may have lost influence, is still deadly. One group is taking responsibility for killing a Negros village chief.
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| https://dailyguardian.com.ph/npa-claims-responsibility-for-killing-of-negros-village-chief/ |
The Armando Sumayang Jr. Command–New People’s Army Southwest Negros Guerrilla Front has claimed responsibility for the killing of a Purok 5 chairperson in Barangay Lina-on, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, on Oct. 14.
In a statement released Monday, Ka Andrea Guerrero, the rebel group’s spokesperson, said they imposed the penalty on the 34-year-old victim for allegedly enabling a raid on an NPA unit in the area last June.
The group also accused the victim of acting as a government informant against the revolutionary movement.
According to police, the victim was shot by five unidentified suspects outside her home that evening.
This is the most recent insurgency-related incident reported in the province since January.
Most of the incidents claimed by the NPA this year occurred in northern Negros.
In August, the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region announced the formation of special investigation teams to probe a series of killings reportedly carried out by the NPA across the region.
If the NPA is able to suss out who is an informant then they must have a capable network of operatives. The group remains a threat.
