Guerrilla Fronts No More: NTF-ELCAC, Army Affirm Marcos’ SONA Declaration

August 05, 2025

Officials of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and the Philippine Army on Monday affirmed the bold pronouncement made by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) that no guerrilla fronts remain in the country.

“Sa wakas, wala na ring nalalabing grupong gerilya sa bansa, at titiyakin ng pamahalaan na wala nang mabubuo muli,” the President declared during his SONA.

(“Finally, there are no guerrilla groups left in the country, and the government will ensure that none will be formed again.”)

This affirmation was made during a FAQcheck press conference organized by the NTF-ELCAC Media Bureau, where officials confirmed that all 89 New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla fronts have been dismantled—marking a historic breakthrough in the nation's decades-long battle against communist insurgency.

Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-Ala explained that these guerrilla fronts were previously organized as self-sustaining politico-military units capable of launching tactical offensives and building underground mass support. But as of end-2024, the final front—Komite Larangang Guerrilla 1 in the Bicol Region—had been neutralized.

Col. Dema-Ala said the declaration was based on five indicators:

1. The neutralization or withdrawal of NPA armed units

2. Collapse of their political-military infrastructure

3. Loss of mass base support

4. Denial of access to guerrilla zones

5. Full reentry of government services in affected communities

“With the disintegration of these five elements, the NPA has lost operational capability. What remains are small groups—typically squads of fewer than ten men—who now operate without direction, support, or territory. We now treat them as bandits, not insurgents,” Dema-Ala said.

He recalled how, at its peak, the NPA operated shadow governments and appointed local officials in areas such as Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Norte. “That period is now behind us,” he said.

NTF-ELCAC Director Alexander Umpar emphasized that the dismantling of all guerrilla fronts is not solely a military achievement. “This was made possible by a whole-of-nation approach under Executive Order No. 70. We combined combat operations with social interventions—livelihood, infrastructure, peace dialogues, and reintegration.”

He cited the Barangay Development Program (BDP) and localized peace initiatives as key drivers that encouraged community resilience and the surrender of rebel elements. “This government delivered where it mattered—where people once felt abandoned, the state showed up,” Umpar said.

Despite the success, Umpar noted that around 785 armed NPA remnants remain, carrying about 780 firearms, mostly in scattered groups. “These no longer constitute guerrilla fronts. But they continue to pose a risk through recruitment, especially in vulnerable sectors,” he warned.

Umpar also pointed to international solidarity networks that sustain radical narratives and offer material support to the remaining NPA elements. “We must continue to counter not just armed activity but ideological subversion and foreign manipulation.”

Col. Dema-Ala closed the briefing with a heartfelt appeal:

“The President has spoken, and we, in the Army, echo his call: It is time to end the fight. Lay down your arms. The nation is ready to embrace peace. The revolution has failed. Let us rebuild together.”