Army says fewer than 10 NPA rebels remain in Panay

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division is looking at fewer than 10 members of the New People’s Army operating on Panay Island.

With that number, soldiers find it hard to hunt them down because they might be in survival mode, 3rd Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Michael Samson said.

During the Kapihan sa PIA Western Visayas, Samson said the NPA remnants could have gone absent without leave or chosen to go home already.

They were last seen in the area of Tapaz, Capiz.

“That’s why, we have recorded encounters in Tapaz sometime in August 2025,” he said.

But after that, Samson said the remaining NPA rebels appeared to have disappeared into thin air.

For now, he added, they are making sure there would be no spillover into other parts of Panay.

“But so far, we have not received any reports of rebel sightings in the area of Panay,” he said.

Once monitored, Samson said Army troops would pursue them.

The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has waged one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies since 1969 and is designated by the Philippine government as a terrorist organization. (Supreme Court E-Library)

But while the neutralization of NPA members and high-ranking leaders has dealt a major blow to the rebel movement, Samson clarified that the Army takes no pleasure in encounters where rebels are killed or injured.

“We are not happy with that. But our job is to ensure that the communities are safe and the people are not intimidated by these armed components,” he said.

Samson stressed that it is their decision and action to fight the government through arms.

“Since it’s our job to maintain peace, we are mandated to prevent these from happening. We won’t allow them to influence the way of life of the residents, especially in upland areas,” he said.

With how things are going, Samson said they are not expecting any encounters on Panay Island.

He also called on the media, local government units, and the private sector to report to authorities if they receive any information about the presence of NPA rebels.

Samson said they remain vigilant to prevent the group’s resurgence in the future.

Meanwhile, the 3rd Infantry Division chief described their anti-insurgency campaign as “very successful.”

He said they were able to dismantle three guerrilla fronts in Panay.

They have also recorded 59 government-initiated encounters.