On its campaign to end insurgency
TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) has reported a significant breakthrough in its intensified campaign against communist insurgency in Eastern Visayas, neutralizing 45 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and recovering 54 firearms in the first six months of 2025.
According to a statement released by the 8ID, whose headquarters is based in Catbalogan City, the sustained military operations — which cover the provinces of Samar, Leyte, Biliran, and parts of Northern Samar — resulted in the deaths of 17 NPA members during combat, one captured, and 27 others voluntarily surrendering to authorities.
The volume of recovered firearms — 21 seized during armed encounters and 33 surrendered — marks what the Army considers a major blow to the NPA’s dwindling armed capability in the region, which has long been considered a stronghold of communist insurgency.
Major General Adonis Ariel Orio, commander of the 8ID and Joint Task Force Storm, emphasized that these achievements reflect both military perseverance and strong collaboration with civilian sectors and local government units.
“These successes are not ours alone. They were made possible by the unwavering support of our communities, local leaders, and partner agencies. Civilian cooperation has been crucial in locating enemy positions and disrupting their operations,” Orio said.
He stressed that the figures do not only represent tactical gains but also highlight the weakening influence and morale of insurgents in the countryside.
“We are closing in on our objective of achieving genuine and lasting peace in Eastern Visayas. The NPA’s capabilities have been significantly degraded. Your Army remains steadfast in pursuing peace and development,” Orio added.
Alongside its military campaign, the 8ID continues to implement programs that address the root causes of insurgency through collaboration with the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC).
These include initiatives in education, livelihood, infrastructure development, and the delivery of basic services to remote and conflict-affected areas.
The Army has again called on remaining rebels to abandon armed struggle and avail themselves of the government’s reintegration initiatives, including the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), localized peace engagements, and the National Amnesty Program.
These programs offer financial assistance, livelihood support, housing, education, and psychosocial services to qualified former rebels and their families to help them rebuild their lives.
“Our message remains clear: there is always a path toward peace. The government is ready to support those who choose to lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law,” Orio said.
Eastern Visayas remains a priority area in the government’s anti-insurgency campaign, with military officials optimistic that the region could soon be declared insurgency-free, thanks to declining rebel activity and increasing community support for peace-building efforts.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA, LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
