The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is stepping up efforts to put an end to the country’s communist insurgency, citing a high number of surrendering rebels in the first quarter of 2022.
According to the AFP public affairs office, a total of 266 communist rebels surrendered to government forces from January to March 2022, or an average of 89 insurgents per month, with 114 coming from various New People’s Army (NPA) units in Eastern Mindanao.
Meanwhile, 58 fighters surrendered in Western Mindanao, 37 in Southern Luzon, 36 in Visayas, 20 in Northern Luzon, and one in Palawan, while 37 rebels were killed in military operations and 29 were apprehended or captured throughout the country.
“The AFP attributes the significant gains against the CNT (CPP NPA Terrorist) to the growing support of communities and local government units through the National Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC),” AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino said.
“The AFP’s security operations, programs, and activities are rooted in our collective desire for peace and security as the nation’s primary protector against terrorists and other state adversaries.” “I am confident that by working and cooperating with organizations and stakeholders, we can move closer to achieving these mutual aspirations for our people,” he added.
The AFP also emphasized that the communist rebels’ surrender resulted in the dismantling of some of the country’s most ferocious NPA units, and more recently, the surrender of Maximo Catarata — the alleged former secretary of the NPA’s Guerilla Front 3 (GF3) in Davao del Norte — resulted in the dismantling of the entire GF3.
Aside from that, state security forces reduced communist groups’ firepower by seizing and surrendering 492 different firearms and 148 anti-personnel mines.
In addition, the military discovered and destroyed 66 communist encampments, the majority of which were in Eastern Mindanao and Visayas.
Centino urged all troops to step up their operations in order to completely eliminate the threat of communist insurgency before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down. ###
