The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) recently reported the “surrender” of 87 Red fighters and supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) for the month of January.

Following its Enhanced Comprehensive Local Intengration Program (E-CLIP), each “surrenderee” is set to receive P65,000.

NPA Cagayan Valley Regional Operational Command spokesperson Guillermo Alcala, however, refuted Nolcom’s recent batch of paraded “surrenderees” last January 28. Alcala said, “apart from naming three aliases, the 501st IBde did not mention the rest.”

“In truth, this has been a yearly activity of the Nolcom since 2018,” added Alcala. “The AFP facilitates by 30s, 50s or 100s of mass surrenderees in Cagayan Valley, yet it contradictoraly claims that the NPA is weakening,” he further said.

“If the surrenders were true, the NPA in West Cagayan should have been decimated by 2018!”, said Alcala.

According to Nolcom Commander Lt.Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., “a total of 396 rebels surrendered,” in 2020. This however is belied by NPA Cagayan Valley’s report of 45-55% increase in NPA membership last year.

Since the year started, units of the NPA in Northern Luzon have mounted tactical offensives once a week. The latest of which is NPA-Abra’s offensive against the 72nd DRC on January 22 in the boundaries of Tubo, Abra and Besao, Mt. Province, resulting in two enemy casualties.