Davao City, Philippines – June 18, 2025 — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) have scored a significant milestone in the country’s decades-long campaign against communist insurgency, following the arrest of the remaining remnants of the New People’s Army-Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (NPA-SMRC) on June 13, 2025, in Agusan del Sur.
Major Ruben Gadut, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division (10ID), announced on Wednesday that the arrest effectively brings the number of active communist guerrillas within their area of responsibility to zero — a historic achievement for the Philippine military. The 10ID area also covers the now insurgency-free Davao Region, one of the former hotbeds of armed rebellion.
“This is a landmark victory not only for the Armed Forces but for the Filipino people. From 16 active NPA guerrilla fronts operating across our jurisdiction, we now report zero active members,” said Gadut.
The dismantling of the final NPA unit under the SMRC is the result of a series of intensified operations, coordinated intelligence work, and strengthened community support. The operation is also a testament to the effectiveness of the “whole-of-nation” approach under Executive Order No. 70, which created the NTF-ELCAC and harmonized government efforts to defeat communist insurgency.
The 10th Infantry Division operates across a wide expanse of Mindanao, covering:
- Region XI (Davao Region) – now officially declared insurgency-free.
- Region X – municipalities in Bukidnon including San Fernando, Damulog, Dancagan, Kibawe, Don Carlos, Maramag, and more.
- Region XII – areas of Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and North Cotabato including Kidapawan City and nearby towns.
- Region XIII (Caraga) – municipalities in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur.
The AFP credited the sustained operations of the 10ID, in partnership with local government units and former rebels who returned to the fold of the law, for cutting off the NPA’s recruitment, logistics, and influence in the region.
Gadut noted that this milestone does not mark the end of their mission but rather a transition to sustaining peace, recovery, and development programs in former conflict areas.
“With the communist insurgency effectively neutralized in our area, we shift our focus to ensuring that the gains of peace are sustained. This includes helping former rebels reintegrate into society and preventing the resurgence of armed rebellion,” he added.
The AFP and NTF-ELCAC continue to call on the remaining NPA members in other parts of the country to surrender, as the government remains open to reconciliation and reintegration under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
This development marks a major blow to the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), whose 55-year insurgency has steadily lost ground in recent years amid mounting surrenders, dwindling support, and intensified security operations nationwide.