AFP commits to end insurgency in 2024

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday committed to eliminate the communist insurgency in the country within the year with only 11 groups left in a weakened state.

"The ground commanders were given this deadline to eliminate it all together for the year 2024," AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla told CNN Philippines' The Source.

Padilla said the communist groups do not have enough manpower, firearms, and resources to establish a united front or a bigger organization. She added that these groups currently only have around 1,500 members from around 25,000.

The AFP official admitted the deadline will be a challenge, but they still hope to achieve this within the year given the 100% clearing rate in 2023. Once this is achieved in 2024, additional resources may be allocated to external defense, she explained.

On Jan. 13, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. claimed that the New People's Army (NPA) no longer has active guerrilla fronts in the country. He said government forces neutralized 1,399 members of extremist groups, and seized 1,751 firearms through capture, confiscation, and surrenders.

The Communist Party of the Philippines said Marcos was only dreaming when he made such a statement.

In November last year, the Marcos administration announced it would resume peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines as both parties acknowledged the "need to unite" to address national challenges, including foreign security threats.