• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army has declared that the New People’s Army is no longer capable of disrupting or influencing the 2025 midterm elections.
Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, said all the guerilla fronts of the NPA in Negros Island have been dismantled and “we see no serious threat from the CTGs (communist terrorist groups).”
“With the current state of the NPA, they no longer have the capability to influence this year’s election,” Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala declared.
Despite this development, Dema-ala said Army units in the field remain on alert and will still conduct internal security operations to ensure that this year’s elections will be peaceful and orderly.
There will be no let up and we will continue with pursuit operations aimed at the remaining leaders of this armed group, he added.
While some NPA remnants are still active, recent military engagements in November and January have led to the deaths of nine suspected rebels, forcing the insurgents into a defensive stance, especially in Negros Oriental, Escanillas said.
He added that they have not detected extortion activities targeting candidates in the region.
PCapt. Judesses Catalogo, provincial police spokesman, also said that they have not monitored any threats so far against the 737 local candidates who underwent assessment by the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) in connection with the May 12 elections.* with PNA reports