No More NPA Terrorists by 2022: Philippine Army Chief

Army chief optimistic on ending insurgency by 2022

FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – The Commanding General of the Philippine Army (CGPA), Lt. Gen. Andres Centino, expressed optimism that the Philippine Army-AFP can comply with the Commander in Chief’s order to end the festering insurgency problem by 2022.

“We are optimistic that we can comply with the president’s order to end the communist armed conflict by 2022,” Lt. Gen. Centino said in an online interview in SMNI news today, November 1, 2021.

“We are on track with what the president has mandated us to do,” said the Army chief. “We are capable of doing this. Everything is in place. We have the support of the people, which is the most important. We also have the full support of the administration.”

The CGPA underscored the Army’s significant gains in dismantling the Communist Terrorists Group’s central committee, regional and sub-regional committees, and guerilla fronts resulting in their diminished influence in the communities.

The Philippine Army dealt communist insurgents a massive blow with the death of top NPA commander Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos. He died in an encounter in the hinterlands of Impasug-ong, Bukidnon, on October 30, 2021. Ka Oris is the Commander of the CTG’s National Operations Command, directing the operations of the NPAs nationwide.

Lt. Gen. Centino also mentioned the capture of 35-year-old rebel leader Ramil Banawan, Secretary of Guerilla Front Malayag, Sub-Regional Command 2 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee, in operation in San Fernando, Bukidnon, on October 25, 2021.

Lt. Gen. Centino also credited the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for the series of decisive gains against communist and terrorist elements. “The NTF-ELCAC, which relies on the comprehensive whole-of-nation approach in solving the insurgency problem, allowed our troops to focus on combat missions and security operations,” the CGPA said.

“Be assured of the continuing service of the Philippine Army to the people,” the CGPA concluded.