Over 2,000 NPA rebels neutralized from Jan. to Oct. 2024 – AFP

MANILA, Philippines — More than 2,000 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have been “neutralized” based on the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) data from January to October this year.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla reported that a total of  2,218 members of the NPA, which the military labels as a communist terrorist group, were neutralized from January 1 to October 24.

“A total of 2,218 Communist terrorist group members and supporters were neutralized, broken down to 1,952 surrendered, 134 apprehended, and 132 killed,” Padilla said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

READ: AFP: 1,367 NPA rebels, supporters ‘neutralized’ from Jan-Aug 8

Among the items confiscated or surrendered by the NPA members were 1,084 firearms and 342 anti-personnel mines.

During the same period, Padilla said that 261 local terrorist group members were also neutralized. Of this figure, 197 surrendered, 12 were apprehended, and 52 were killed.

In August this year, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the NPA force continues to dwindle, adding that its weakened guerrilla fronts decreased from seven to five.

Earlier, Padilla explained that units considered weakened can no longer implement programs like recruiting members or generating resources to support their armed struggle.

Since its founding on March 29, 1969, the NPA has carried out the world’s longest-running Maoist insurgency.