The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAL) on Sunday said there is nothing to celebrate as the New People’s Army marks its 57th anniversary, citing decades of violence and hardship.
NTF-ELCAC executive director Usec. Ernesto Torres Jr. said the anniversary should instead be a moment of national reckoning, noting the insurgency’s legacy of lost lives, broken families, and affected communities.
Torres, however, pointed to what he described as a shift toward peace, citing former rebels surrendering, families reuniting, and communities rebuilding across the country.
Data from the National Amnesty Commission showed 16,003 applications—exceeding the 10,000 target—including 13,633 former combatants and supporters who applied before the March 13 deadline.
Torres urged continued vigilance, warning that recruitment efforts have shifted to misinformation and youth targeting, and called on all sectors to unite in ending the insurgency.
