The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported a significant reduction in the number of communist guerrilla fronts across the country, underscoring the success of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in dismantling the remaining insurgent groups.
“Based on our clearing parameters, we have seen a steady decline in all insurgency indicators,” AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Jimmy Larida said during a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday.
According to Larida, the number of monitored communist terrorist groups (CTGs) dropped from 2,008 in 2022 to just 901 by the end of the first semester of 2025—less than half of the previous figure.
“In terms of manpower, we’ve seen a sharp decline. The Armed Forces of the Philippines played a major role in achieving the objectives of the NTF-ELCAC,” Larida noted.
He also reported a decrease in the number of firearms recovered from insurgents, from 1,817 in 2022 to 731 by mid-2025.
Larida made the report following his participation in the NTF-ELCAC Executive Committee meeting held in Malacañang.
Aside from intensified military operations, he said the AFP is also pursuing efforts to encourage rebel fighters to surrender and reintegrate into mainstream society.
With the steady weakening of insurgent forces, the AFP is now transitioning from internal security operations to territorial defense, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“We’re shifting to territorial defense missions and winding up our internal security operations,” Larida said.
