‘Only TWO–THREE Kalinga NPA rebels left after arrest of 10 ICRC members’ – 501st Infantry Brigade

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Only around three members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Kalinga remain following the arrest of 10 identified members of the Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC) on March 11, according to the military.

The ICRC, a communist terrorist group believed to be operating in Abra and Kalinga, is categorized into two factions — the NPA Kalinga and the NPA Abra. Members of these two factions are considered the remnants of the dismantled Kilusang Larangang Guerilla.

On March 11, the military and the police launched two separate but simultaneous operations in Tarlac City and Quezon City to serve arrest warrants against members of the ICRC.

The operations resulted in the arrest of 10 individuals. However, one was released after authorities found no warrant issued against him, while another reportedly cooperated with authorities and is now applying for amnesty.

According to 501st Infantry Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Dean Mark Mamaril, the majority of those arrested were members of the NPA Kalinga, further weakening the group’s remaining force. The statement was made during a press conference on March 13.

“Sa ngayon yung bilang natin may naiwan na lang na dalawa yata o tatlo na miyembro ng NPA Kalinga. Yung the rest ay miyembro ng NPA Abra,” he said.

Mamaril noted that both NPA Kalinga and NPA Abra do not operate strictly within the boundaries of Kalinga and Abra, as members move across provincial borders. The two factions also have members coming from other provinces such as Ilocos, Apayao, and Benguet, among others.

Mamaril added that these developments are the result of the collective efforts of the military, police, and the government, along with the continued support and cooperation of local communities.

Meanwhile, Kalinga is set to be declared insurgency-free this March 2026, with its capital, Tabuk City, scheduled for formal recognition under the State of Stable Internal Peace and Security.