PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is not abolishing the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and even wants it to sustain its efforts to end communist insurgency, National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said yesterday.
Malaya, in a briefing, said the President “made it clear today” during the 7th Executive Committee Meeting of the task force in Malacañang, “that he will never abolish the NTF-ELCAC.”
“The President, as chairman of the NTF-ELCAC, himself recognizes the success of the task force in decimating the terroristic activities of the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front),” he said.
He added that Marcos is also encouraged by reports that the government campaign is “bearing fruit” and that it should “continue.”
“It has been successful and we need to continue to invest in its success,” Malaya said, quoting the President.
Malaya said when the NTF-ELCAC was formed, the CPP-NPA-NDF had 89 guerilla fronts nationwide. This has been reduced to “one weakened” front in Camarines Sur, which is expected to be dismantled within the year, he said.
He said the number of armed NPA members had also been reduced to around 1,050 with some of them “scattered and isolated in some parts of the country.”
Malaya attributed the significant decline in CPP-NPA members to multiple factors, including the deaths of key leaders such as Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, the neutralization of the Tiamzon couple, and the recent death of Myrna Sularte; focused military and police operations; success of the Barangay Development Program; and sustained localized peace engagements.
He said the CPP-NPA-NDF is now “leaderless” and with the loss of mass support, is unable to impose revolutionary taxes or permit-to-win and permit-to-campaign tactics this midterm elections. He said the imposition of the revolutionary taxes or permit-to-win and permit-to-campaign taxes were major security challenges in previous elections.
“For this coming May elections, the CPP-NPA-NDF will no longer be a significant threat to the peaceful conduct of elections,” he said.
Malaya said this developed despite the NPA’s launch of its third rectification movement, which seeks to rebuild and reclaim its lost mass base.
“But their (NPA) efforts are hindered by the NTF-ELCAC, the focused military and police operations, legal and financial restrictions, socio-economic projects like the Barangay Development Program, and our amnesty program,” he said.
Malaya and Armed Forces Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Jimmy Larida said they do not see any threat in connection with the NPA anniversary on March 29 but the government continues to monitor the situation.
NTF-ELCAC executive director Ernesto Torres Jr. said 280 insurgency-cleared barangays will be included in the list of the beneficiaries of the Barangay Development Program (BDP). These are from Zamboanga City, Sulu, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, and Basilan.
He said the insurgency-free barangays from Sulu, Lanao del Sur, and Zamboanga City will also become the first recipients of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) in 2026 and will benefit from the BDP in 2027, while barangays from Basilan and Maguindanao del Sur will become RCSP beneficiaries in 2027 and BDP recipients in 2028.
The RCSP aims to implement programs, projects, and activities that will put an end to governance and development gaps in communities and will promote sustainable peace and development, while the BDP aims to bring development to former conflict-prone communities.
At least 4,830 barangays are currently covered by the BDP.
Under the BDP, each barangay was supposed to receive at least P10 million worth of programs, activities, and projects packages but the amount had been slashed to P2.5 million per barangay under the 2025 budget.
During the meeting, the President directed the Department of Budget and Management to allocate an additional P5 million for each BDP this year to support the government’s efforts in providing sustainable livelihood programs, infrastructure improvement, education, and healthcare services to communities affected by past conflicts. Marcos said the BDP is the “key to the success of the entire NTF- ELCAC project.”
