NTF-Elcac: Nearly 1,500 CTG members neutralized in 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly 1,500 members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) have been neutralized nationwide in 2026, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) said Wednesday.

During the 10th NTF-Elcac executive committee meeting in Malacañang, Executive Director Usec. Danilo Pamonag presented to President Marcos the task force’s accomplishments in recent years.

READ: Receding insurgency due to ongoing gov’t dev’t programs – NTF-Elcac

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“This year alone, sustained security operations and integrated peace-building efforts of the PLEDS (Peace, Law Enforcement and Development Support) Cluster have successfully weakened the Communist Terrorist Group,” the NTF-Elcac said in a press release.

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“With 1,355 CTG members neutralized—1,227 surrendered, 48 arrested, and 79 killed during military operations. A total of 49 firearms were also seized or surrendered, 308 anti-personnel mines recovered, and 57 NPA encampments seized as we continue with our efforts to promote peace and security,” it also said.

Since Marcos assumed office in 2022, a total of 27,897 former members and supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDF) have returned to the fold of the law, according to the task force.

These returnees received a combined P1 billion in assistance through the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

“The amnesty board is also facilitating the processing of 13,841 amnesty applications of former CPP-NPA-NDF members,” it said.

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Pamonag appealed to member agencies “to prioritize in their programs, projects and activities the support for former member rebels’ transformation program in order to facilitate their reintegration into mainstream society.”

He also urged concerned government units to track, flag, and integrate cybersecurity measures to address online radicalization and terrorism financing schemes.

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Meanwhile, 33,381 barangays across 62 provinces in the country are now in Stable Internal Peace and Security status and are now moving away from violence toward peace, democratic governance, and development, the NTF-Elcac said.

“With enhanced efforts through the Barangay Development Program in 5,639 formerly conflict-affected barangays, 44.9 billion pesos worth of community development projects, including building of 978 classrooms, 1,601 kilometers of farm-to-market roads, 1,182 water and sanitation systems, 556 health and medical stations, 24,740 streetlights, and 9,630 electrification projects—successfully servicing approximately 16 million individuals,” it also said.

Reduced budget

In a chance interview after the meeting, Pamonag said the amount allocated per village under the Barangay Development Program (BDP) will be reduced next year.

He said they recommended a P5-million budget per barangay under the BDP next year, down from the P10 million allotted per community in 2026.

“It would be very challenging for the community, but as you see, for next year, there would be more barangays that would [benefit],” he told reporters.

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The BDP aims to bring sustainable development programs to conflict-prone and conflict-affected communities. /cb