- Army: NPA presence in Eastern Mindanao hits record low as insurgency ‘nears final phase’
THE EASTERN Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) reported that the membership of the Communist Terrorist Group has plummeted to a record low of 29 active guerrillas.
During a media engagement at Camp Panacan, military officers revealed that NPA personnel numbers fell from 114 to 29 in the first quarter of 2026—a 71% reduction achieved in just three months.
The command’s aggressive operations also effectively halved the group’s firepower, leaving the remaining elements with only 50 firearms, down from 96.
Operational breakthroughs
The Q1 2026 assessment highlights a series of tactical victories that have left the insurgency “fragmented, isolated, and operationally limited”:
- Neutralizations: 85 insurgents were neutralized through combat, capture, or surrender, including six key leaders.
- Hardware Recovery: Security forces seized 46 firearms and 18 anti-personnel mines.
- Structural Collapse: 13 enemy hideouts were cleared, and active formations were reduced from four units to just two.
Military leaders stated these remnants are no longer capable of sustaining large-scale operations. This paved the way for the widespread declaration of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status, signaling functional governance and the absence of organized threats.
As of today, the journey to full regional stability includes:
- Municipalities – 117 out of 163 (71%) declared SIPS.
- Provinces – 9 out of 17 (53%) declared SIPS.
- Cities – 9 out of 18 (50%) declared SIPS.
The command credited these gains to a “whole-of-nation” approach, utilizing inter-agency coordination and programs like E-CLIP and the Amnesty Program to reintegrate thousands of former rebels.
With the insurgency nearing its end, EastMinCom is transitioning its focus toward external security operations (ESO). The 10th Infantry Division and other units are now prioritizing territorial defense and maritime security, specifically safeguarding the region’s 67,374 nautical miles of maritime domain.
Strategic priorities now include regional cooperation through exercises such as the Philippine-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (PHILINDO CORPAT).
“The insurgency is no longer a widespread threat but a residual concern nearing its final phase,” according to Lt Col Ryann Velez under the Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Civil- Military Operations (CMO), U7, during the presentation of command’s accomplishments.
Colonel Rosa Ma. Cristina Rosete- Manuel, the EastMinCom spokesperson, said the NPA is severely weakened now.
“In the number of manpower, for now, they are unable to organize,” she said. They are actually weak now.”
She said one of their immediate goals for the remainder of 2026 included declaring the entire Caraga Region as insurgency-free.
