MANILA, Philippines — More than 1,300 New People’s Army rebels and their supporters have been “neutralized” since January this year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said 1,367 members of the NPA, which the military labels as a communist terrorist group (CTG), and their supporters were killed in separate operations and encounters nationwide from January 1 to August 8.
“There are a total of 1,367 CTG members and supporters that we neutralized, but it is important to note that we have many surrenderees. So 1,169 surrendered to authorities, 101 were apprehended, and 97 were killed,” Padilla said in an interview during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday.
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FILE PHOTO: Members of the Philippine Army fire the newly acquired Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer System (ATMOS) 155 self-propelled guns and M119 105mm Howitzer during the Combined Arms Training Exercise (CATEX) “Katihan” Battle 2 Period at Camp O’Donnell in Capas Tarlac on Friday, March 15, 2024. CATEX is the first-ever large-scale exercise that will effectively test the Army’s capability during combat operations. The historic exercise will effectively test the Army’s capability to move, maneuver, and sustain large-scale forces during combat operations, which aim to form a formidable and strong army capable of safeguarding the country’s sovereignty. INQUIRER / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
Padilla also said that in the same period, 176 members of Daulah Islamiyah and Abu Sayaff Group were “neutralized.” The figure included 124 who surrendered, six who were arrested, and 46 who were killed, she noted.
The AFP previously reported that the number of guerrilla fronts nationwide decreased from 11 to seven since the start of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.
Padilla explained that these units have been considered as weakened, which means that they can no longer implement programs like recruitment and generate resources to support their armed struggle.
National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. earlier explained that AFP troops are still in areas where the presence of armed groups was detected.
Since its founding on March 29, 1969, the NPA has carried out the world’s longest-running Maoist insurgency.