NPA rebels urged to surrender, end armed struggle as group marks 55th anniversary

As the New People’s Army (NPA) marked its 55^th founding anniversary last March 29, its remaining leaders and members were again urged by the national government to lay down their weapons and end the armed struggle so lasting peace can finally be achieved in the country.

In a statement on Easter Sunday, March 31, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said the elimination of NPA "mass bases" led to the eventual demise of its guerrilla fronts.

The Maoist-inspired NPA is the armed component of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founded by the late Jose Ma. “Joma” Sison. It was established on March 29, 1969.

“A very important characteristic of a ‘cleared area’ is the absence of their mass base support and resource generation. Meaning, the residents are the ones giving information to the security forces if the NPA fighters are returning to the community to conduct atrocities or to extort money,” said NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Ernesto Torres Jr.

Torres made the clarification following doubts about the strength and armed capability of the NPA, owing to recent encounters between state forces and the rebels in some parts of the country. 

According to the task force, there remains only 11 “weakened” NPA guerilla fronts from a high of 89 active guerilla fronts in 2018.

Of the number, five guerilla fronts are in Luzon, and three each in Visayas and Mindanao. Torres said the remaining guerilla fronts are targeted to be dismantled within this year as they are already considered weakened, which means that they have no leaders but their fighters can still mount individual attacks.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the armed struggle being waged by the NPA “only brought suffering and division” to the Filipinos, so it would be better to just return to the folds of the law and transform their lives to be productive members of the nation.

“Let this anniversary be a turning point, a moment of renewal and hope. Let us embrace the path of peace, dialogue, and reconciliation. The time has come for us to join hands and work towards a better tomorrow,” said AFP Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr.

“It is time to break the cycle of violence and embrace the possibility of peace. It is time to lay down your arms and abandon the armed struggle,” he added.

From January to March, a total of 422 NPA fighters have been neutralized by the AFP, leaving the group with around 1,000 fighters. 

Relatedly, the National Security Council (NSC) urged all rebel groups, including the remaining members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), to take advantage of the amnesty program currently being offered by the government. 

“The NSC extends its sincere invitation to all rebels to consider the path of peace and reconciliation by availing of the amnesty program,” NSC Asst. Director General Jonathan Malaya said.

The National Amnesty Commission has begun accepting applications for the national government’s amnesty program after the Congress concurred with the Amnesty Proclamation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

Malaya said this was a “significant development and a game changer” in ending the more than 50-year communist armed conflict in the country.

“The amnesty program opens the door to opportunities for all former NPA combatants to renew their lives, reintegrate into mainstream society, and build a peaceful and brighter future for themselves and their families,” he said.

“We encourage all the remaining active members of the armed rebel groups to seize and embrace this chance for reconciliation and renewal of hope as we all work together towards lasting peace and development,” he added.