NTF-ELCAC to Reds: Surrender, start new lives in 2024

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 3, 2024): NTF-ELCAC to Reds: Surrender, start new lives in 2024 (By Priam Nepomuceno)

MANILA – The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Wednesday called on all remaining New People's Army (NPA) rebels to surrender and start new lives for the new year.

"The peace process will not deter the NTF-ELCAC from implementing its mandated tasks to liberate all communities affected by local communist armed conflict," it added in a post on its Facebook page.

It also urged these rebels to immediately renounce violence, lay down their arms and surrender peacefully to become law-abiding citizens who can do their part in nation building.

The NTF-ELCAC said it will further intensify efforts in bringing the government closer to the "geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas" by bringing in the Barangay Development Program, Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, and sustainable livelihood projects to former rebels who peacefully surrendered, among others.

"The NTF-ELCAC will also continue to innovate our approaches to Local Peace Engagement in the pursuit of genuine peace in the localities," it added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Dec. 31, 2023 announced that it successfully dismantled eight NPA guerrilla fronts, aside from weakening 14 others in 2023.

"As of December, there are no more active CTG (communist terrorist group) guerrilla fronts," AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said.

He said continued focused military operations by the AFP also resulted in the neutralization of 67 high-value individuals who belong to communist and local terrorist groups.

"Among the top leaders neutralized are Dionisio Macabalo, also known as alias Muling/Kardo, who was the Secretary of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee, and Farahudin Pumbaya Pangalian, also known as alias Abu Zacharia, who was the Amir of (Daulah Islamiyah) DI-Philippines and overall Amir Islamic State-East Asia," Trinidad noted.

In 2023, the AFP successfully neutralized 1,399 members of communist and local terrorist groups and seized 1,751 firearms through capture, confiscation, recovery, or surrender.

The military said these accomplishments have significantly reduced the capability of these groups to carry out violent attacks against government security forces and local communities.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1216257