Kalinaw News: The Collapse of NPA Guerilla Front 55: A Trailblazer to Peace and Development Initiatives

Posted to Kalinaw News (Dec 22, 2021): The Collapse of NPA Guerilla Front 55: A Trailblazer to Peace and Development Initiatives



The 1003rd Infantry Brigade, 10th Infantry Division, Phil Army along with partner stakeholders has gained headway in sustaining peace and security operations in the area of responsibility which led to the decline of the Guerilla Front 55 (GF55), the only remaining NPA front under the Sub-Regional Committee 5 (SRC5) of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC). As a stopgap of its dwindling strength, GF55 pushed towards Paquibato District, a futile attempt to recover its former bastion adjacent Davao City’s socio-economic and political hubs.

With this prevailing situation, 1003rd Brigade with 27th Infantry Battalion and 89IB as its forefront units, initiated focused military operations targeting the GF55 to prevent them from recovering Paquibato District while the City Government sustains its local peace initiatives through the Peace 911.

The massive combat operations started in August 2020 tracking down around 40 NPA fighters of GF55 led by Arian Jane Ramos Alias “Marikit,” the front secretary. By the end of 2020, 27IB and 89IB were able to neutralize key personalities of GF55 which include the death of Romel Tausan, the Commander of GF55, the surrender of Daniel Castillo alias “STEVEN”, the Political Officer of GF55, and the surrender of Nelson Hepervis alias “DARUKOY”, the revolutionary tax collector of GF55.

With the series of debacles suffered, more NPAs continue to surrender to the folds of law. With only 19 members remaining, GF55 vacated Paquibato District and sought refuge with the Sub-Regional Guerilla Unit (SRGU), an NPA unit operating in Talaingod, Davao del Norte. Meanwhile, the Community Support Program (CSP) teams deployed in Paquibato successfully cleared the NPA recovery Barangays of Mapula, Malabog, Paquibato Proper, and Lumiad this year.

In August 2021, the Brigade culminated GF55’s existence by facilitating the successful surrender of Arian Jane Ramos Alias “Marikit.” The surrender of Ka Marikit finally crumbled the leadership of GF55 leaving it non-operational while its remnant members joined the SRGU. Ka Marikit, a graduate from the University of the Philippines Mindanao and an Indigenous People (IP) rights advocate, is currently helping in the government’s peace initiatives by identifying and resolving local issues particularly in Paquibato, Talaingod and Sto. Tomas.

After the collapse of GF55, the Brigade then gained its momentum in defeating the SRGU before the year ends, to finally prevent them from re-infiltrating Paquibato, Talaingod, and Sto Tomas. As it happens, at least 30 NPA members of the SRGU were already neutralized to include those who joined from GF55 in just five months. At present, only nine NPAs remaining in the SRGU.

In the long run, to protect our gains in the peace and security efforts in the GIDAs, the Brigade through the support of the City Government, have introduced peace initiatives such as the establishment of “Peace Builders” in Paquibato. Peace Builders are city-paid former members of underground mass organizations tasked to proactively monitor and propose solutions to exploitable issues in respective areas.

Likewise, through the efforts of LGUs of Davao City; Sto Tomas, Davao del Norte and Talaingod, Davao del Norte, the Task Force TUGANAY was created that will pave way for long-term solution to the ancestral domain issues in the affected areas particularly in the tri-boundary of Paquibato, Talaingod and Sto. Tomas.

The creation of Peace Builders and TF Tuganay after the dismantling of GF 55 and the reduction of SRGU, Colonel Consolito Yecla, the Commander of 1003rd Infantry Brigade believes that we have initiated pioneering initiatives capable of sustaining the peace and development in the AOR.

The collapse of GF55 marks a significant campaign milestone as a trailblazer to genuine peace and development in the area of responsibility. As the AFP bestows the Streamer Award to 1003Bde during the AFP Day on 21 Dec 2021 for the successful dismantling of the GF5, we are again reminded of the bigger role we play in sustaining our gains.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/the-collapse-of-npa-guerilla-front-55-a-trailblazer-to-peace-and-development-initiatives/