After Battlefield Losses, CPP Southern Tagalog Targets Former Members Online

The recent online attacks against former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army (CPP–NPA) in Southern Tagalog suggest a shift in the group’s tactics. Instead of focusing on armed encounters on the ground, the movement’s regional leadership has increasingly directed its messaging and propaganda against former rebels who have left the organization.

The Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC), in recent weeks, released a series of public denunciations, “wanted” posters, and threats presented as revolutionary justice against individuals who have defected from the movement.

Military setbacks in Mindoro

The escalation in propaganda activity came after a series of military setbacks faced by the NPA in Mindoro earlier this year.

One of the most significant incidents occurred during an armed encounter on January 1, which resulted in the death of Jerlyn Doydora, a student activist linked to Kabataan Partylist who was reportedly operating with NPA forces in the area. The encounter also led to the capture of Chantal Anicoche, an NPA guerilla fighter who was also a member of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) USA.

The incident triggered questions about the presence of urban-based activists in a guerrilla zone. While allies claimed Doydora had been conducting research among the Iraya-Mangyan community, accounts from nearby communities reportedly failed to confirm the presence of such research activities in the area.

The capture of Anicoche also exposed possible overseas recruitment channels linked to organizations affiliated with the CPP’s broad united front. According to reports circulating after the encounter, she admitted membership in the NPA and claimed to have been recruited abroad through activist networks.

Beyond these incidents, a growing number of former rebels in Mindoro have reportedly surrendered to government authorities in recent years, revealing information about guerrilla structures, mass bases, and operational tactics within the regional command.

“Wanted” posters and public denunciations

Following these setbacks, the Southern Tagalog command intensified its public attacks against former members.

On February 16, propaganda materials circulated online calling for the exposure of what the group described as “counter-revolutionary traitors.” The statement urged supporters to print and distribute “wanted posters” of individuals accused of collaborating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other government institutions.

The materials encouraged the public to spread these posters in crowded areas and on social media, framing the individuals as enemies of the revolutionary movement.

Buklod Kapayapaan Federation Inc. (BKFI), an organization of former rebels, note that such labeling can carry serious risks. Historically, individuals publicly branded as traitors by the CPP have been vulnerable to retaliation from NPA units.

The campaign escalated further on March 9 when the NPA’s Lucio De Guzman Command in Mindoro issued a lengthy statement denouncing two former members, Roselyn Galario and Job Abednego David.

In the statement, the organization accused the two of betraying the revolutionary movement after cooperating with government programs and participating in public activities opposing the insurgency.

The declaration concluded with a warning that they would face “revolutionary justice” at the proper time.

From battlefield to propaganda front

BKFI says the messaging reflects a pattern often seen in insurgencies experiencing operational decline. As military capacity weakens, propaganda becomes an increasingly important tool to deter defections and project an image of strength.

“The CPP-NPA-NDFP today faces diminishing public support and sympathy,” said BKFI.” Communities that once provided even passive support are increasingly choosing development, stability, and lawful civic engagement.” 

The tone of recent statements suggests that the movement is now directing much of its messaging not at government forces but at its own former members.

In past years, former rebels have played a key role in government reintegration and counter-terrorism programs, often sharing information about recruitment networks and internal structures of underground organizations.

Security concerns for former rebels

The public targeting of former rebels raises questions about their safety, particularly those living in communities where the CPP-NPA once maintained strong influence.

Former rebels who have returned to civilian life often participate in livelihood programs, local development initiatives, or information campaigns that discourage recruitment into armed groups. Their visibility, however, can also make them targets of retaliation.

Security officials and local governments need to strengthen protective measures for these individuals, including monitoring threats, coordinating with local police units, and ensuring continued support under reintegration programs.

Without such protection, intimidation campaigns could discourage active members of the NPA from surrendering.

A conflict entering a different phase

After more than five decades of armed struggle, the communist insurgency in the Philippines has undergone significant shifts in strategy, organization, and strength across different regions.

In Southern Tagalog, recent events suggest that the conflict is entering another phase — one where the battle is no longer fought only in remote guerrilla zones but also in the information space.

Whether this strategy can compensate for declining operational capability remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the conflict now extends beyond the battlefield, reaching into online platforms and the lives of those who have already chosen to leave the insurgency behind.