Military says NPAs no longer have mass support
TACLOBAN CITY – The military in Eastern Visayas has asserted that the New People’s Army (NPA) no longer holds the power to demand so-called “permits to campaign” or “permits to win” from political candidates in the region relative to the May 12 midterm elections.
According to Lt. Col. Joemar Buban, assistant division chief of staff for community and military affairs, the NPA has lost both its mass support and influence over barangays, making any such demands ineffective.
“Candidates should not be deceived if they receive demand letters from the NPA for permits to campaign or win,” Buban said during the ‘Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas’ of the Philippine Information Agency on Tuesday, March 18.
“This communist terrorist group no longer controls any barangay, nor do they have the mass base to justify such demands,” he stressed.
Buban further questioned the rebels’ ability to influence election outcomes. “How can they make a candidate win when they no longer have any barangay or mass base under their control?” he pointed out.
In previous elections, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) reportedly demanded that candidates secure permits to campaign in areas under their control, particularly in remote barangays.
The so-called “permit to win” was also offered in exchange for financial contributions, with the promise of ensuring votes for a candidate in NPA-influenced villages.
However, Buban stated that the situation has significantly changed.
“We are closely monitoring the security (landscape) for any election-related violence, including potential threats from NPA rebels. But we are confident that we are on the final stretch of ending the insurgency in Eastern Visayas, with its complete eradication within reach this year,” he said.
According to military data, the number of active NPA rebels in Eastern Visayas has dwindled to just over 100, primarily in Samar Island. This marks a significant drop from more than 400 members in 2019, when the government launched the End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) initiative.
ELCAC, a whole-of-nation approach initiated under former President Rodrigo Duterte and continued under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has been credited with reducing insurgency-related threats.
Since its implementation in 2019, military operations conducted 461 armed encounters, leading to the deaths of 791 rebels, including 115 key leaders. Additionally, 1,124 assorted firearms, 704 anti-personnel land mines, and 703 rebel camps have been seized or dismantled.
With NPA-controlled villages being cleared, Buban noted that development initiatives such as road construction have begun benefiting communities, allowing residents greater access to government services.
JOEY A. GABIETA
