MANILA – Nearly 500 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and their supporters were "neutralized" from Jan. 1 to March 26 this year, the military said.
"Neutralized" refers to the surrender, capture, or killing of enemy troops.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said 482 NPA rebels/supporters were neutralized during the period – 446 surrendered, 18 were arrested, and 18 were killed in operations nationwide.
"Mas marami po ang sumusuko kesa sa lumalaban (More opt to surrender than to fight)," Padilla said in an interview Tuesday.
"And when people choose to return to the fold of the law, that is not just a win for security, that's a win for humanity."
The military also reported the recovery of 304 firearms and 79 anti-personnel mines, and the capture of 18 NPA camps in the first three months of the year.
For the whole of 2025, the AFP said, 2,018 NPA rebels and supporters were neutralized – 1,798 surrendered, 93 were arrested, and 127 were killed.
Authorities also recovered 1,134 firearms and 531 anti-personnel mines, while 149 NPA encampments were seized. (PNA)