Government forces reported significant gains against the communist insurgency in the first two months of the year, with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) saying hundreds of New People’s Army (NPA) members and alleged supporters were taken out of the conflict cycle from early January to early March.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said a total of 413 individuals linked to the NPA were “neutralized” from Jan. 1 to March 5—a military term that covers those who surrendered, were arrested/captured, or were killed during operations. Most of the total, 398, reportedly surrendered, while seven were captured and nine were killed in separate encounters.
Padilla said the latest figures suggest that sustained security operations, paired with reintegration efforts and development support, are helping encourage more individuals to leave the armed movement. She added that the trend points to a gradually improving security environment as more people opt for reintegration over continued fighting.
During the same period, troops also reported recovering 234 assorted firearms, 68 anti-personnel mines, and 14 insurgent camps in operations against communist rebels.
The AFP also cited last year’s nationwide tally, saying its units recorded 2,018 NPA members and supporters “neutralized” from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025. Of that total, 1,798 surrendered, 93 were arrested, and 127 were killed.
For 2025, the military further reported that 1,134 firearms and 531 anti-personnel mines were seized or surrendered, and 149 NPA encampments were captured.
