CABANATUAN, Nueva Ecija. Philippine troops have killed at least 10 suspected communist guerrillas in a clash in a remote northern area, marking the latest blow to a decades-old insurgency that has significantly weakened. Military and security officials reported on Friday that the insurgency now has only about a thousand guerrillas remaining.
The confrontation occurred on Wednesday near a village in Pantabangan town in Nueva Ecija province. Army troops intercepted approximately 20 New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas, who were retreating from a previous clash with government forces last week. The ensuing firefight resulted in the deaths of 10 rebels, including three commanders. Thirteen rifles and a pistol were recovered from the site, located near a key dam, according to the army.
Maj. Jimson Masangkay, a regional army spokesperson, confirmed by telephone that troops were continuing to pursue around 10 other guerrillas who fled the remote area.
Brig. Gen. Norwin Joseph Pasamonte, an army infantry brigade commander, praised the troops for their success but also expressed sorrow over the loss of life. “The government did not fail in appealing to them to surrender and return to normal life,” Pasamonte stated, adding that the deaths should serve as a deterrent to the remaining guerrillas.
Nueva Ecija, a northern rice-growing region, was once a stronghold of the communist insurgency. However, Maj. Masangkay noted that fewer than 50 Maoist guerrillas remain active in the area.
Last November, the government and the communist rebels agreed to resume talks aimed at ending one of Asia’s longest-running armed insurgencies. The discussions, held in Oslo and mediated by Norwegian officials, sought to address key obstacles to intermittent peace negotiations. Despite this, actual peace talks have not resumed under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Philippine officials estimate that about 1,000 communist fighters remain, following years of setbacks, surrenders, and internal divisions. Peace talks, previously brokered by Norway, collapsed under former President Rodrigo Duterte after both sides accused each other of continuing deadly attacks despite ongoing negotiations.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
