• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
There are no more active guerilla fronts in the country, declared President Ferdinand Marcos during his 3rd State Of the Nation Address on July 22.
What are left behind are only seven weakened New People’s Army guerilla fronts, according to the President.
The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division earlier declared the dismantling of five existing guerilla fronts in Negros Island and another one in Panay island.
Negros Island has already been placed in a status of Stable Internal Peace and Security by the Philippine Army, as concurred by the respective Provincial Peace and Order Councils of the two provinces.
Marcos said the seven weakened guerilla fronts are the subject of focused operations by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
A weakened guerrilla front means it can no longer implement its programs like recruitment and generating resources for the armed struggle, as opposed to active guerrilla fronts, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
As of December 2023, the AFP reported that the NPA is down to about 1,200 fighters, far from the peak of around 25,000 in 1987.
In Negros Island, the 3ID reported that there are now at least five to seven members remaining in each dismantled guerilla front, who are now the subject of focused operations of five Army battalions.
The government is offering an amnesty program for former NPA rebels. The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), whose armed wing is the NPA, had previously rejected the offer.
The 3ID reported that a total of 300 former rebels applied amnesty in Negros Island.*
