17-12-2023 (MANILA) Today’s clash between government troops and New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas near Balayan, approximately 68 kilometres south of Manila, resulted in the death of six NPA members and one soldier, with three soldiers sustaining injuries, according to a statement from the Philippine Army. This incident occurs as the Philippine government gears up to recommence peace talks aimed at resolving one of the world’s longest-running Maoist insurgencies.
The skirmish follows an agreement reached three weeks ago between the government and rebels to resume negotiations, seeking an end to the nearly 55-year insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives.
Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro affirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to combat all terrorist groups jeopardising the country’s security. In a statement, he extended condolences to the family of the deceased soldier.
The roots of the rebellion can be traced back to the global communist movement, finding fertile ground for recruitment among the rural poor in the Philippines. At its peak in the 1980s, the NPA boasted around 26,000 fighters, a number that the military claims has significantly diminished to less than 2,000.
Various Philippine administrations have engaged in peace talks with the communists through their political arm, the Netherlands-based National Democratic Front. The most recent peace talks occurred during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, who terminated negotiations in 2017 and classified the group as a terrorist organisation.
Expectations are high among aides of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and rebel officials for the negotiations to resume next year, fostering optimism for a potential resolution to the protracted conflict.
