‘Reds soon to become insignificant threat’

A RANKING official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) said the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), will soon be an insignificant threat, as the country ushered in the New Year.

“Despite the CPP’s denials, the NTF-ELCAC’s achievements speak volumes. Through our concerted efforts, we have dismantled 88 out of 89 guerrilla fronts and benefitted 4,830 geographically isolated and disadvantaged barangays through the Barangay Development Program, effectively eradicating the CTGs (communist terrorist groups) in their traditional strongholds,” NTF-Elcac Executive Director Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement Wednesday.

Aside from this, Torres said the task force has successfully reconciled thousands of surrenderers with their families, facilitating their reintegration into their communities.

He added that these outstanding achievements significantly contribute to the country’s journey toward stable internal peace and security.

“As we persist with our tried and tested strategy against the CPP, its underground forces, particularly the NPA, will soon become an insignificant threat. Its armed remnants are now disconnected from the masses, discredited, and incapable of launching meaningful offensives,” Torres said.

He added that the government will continue dismantling the CPP-NPA’s financial and material support network.

This, Torres said, will ensure that extremist recruiters and propagandists are held accountable by the country’s justice system.

“These ‘ahas sa damuhan’ (snakes in the grass) who exploit our legal and democratic spaces in order to sow division, are the last lifeline of the CPP. Alas, they have unmasked themselves as transactional operators, with their questionable alliances and cash-driven motives exposing them as mercenaries rather than true servants of the people,” he added.

Through Executive Order 70 which created the NTF-Elcac, Torres said the Philippine government continues to confront the root causes of insurgency with tangible solutions.

“From educational opportunities to enhanced governance are our investments to address long-standing systemic issues. Sitio electrification programs, farm-to-market roads, and livelihood training are initiatives that directly uplift vulnerable communities. The whole-of-nation approach has delivered measurable outcomes, transforming lives and fostering trust in government. By comparison, the CPP clings to outdated rhetoric and superficial critiques, blind to the efforts of a nation marching forward for peace and progress,” he added.

By proactively addressing grievances through socioeconomic programs, he said the government has removed the insurgents’ ability to exploit and weaponize communities.

“It is evident that the CPP is collapsing under the weight of its hypocrisy and internal contradictions. Its leaders continue to advocate lofty ideals while engaging in actions that betray the very communities they claim to uplift. The rectification movement is not a path to renewal but a desperate attempt to remain relevant and stall their inevitable decline,” he added.