Army officials said the weapon appears to match a machine gun reportedly seized by NPA fighters during an attack on a Philippine Coast Guard station and Navy vessel in Real, Quezon in 2003. There has been no statement from the NPA confirming or denying this operation.
Dec. 21 | Brgy. Sta. Elena, Lopez, Quezon
The Philippine Army reported that troops from the 85th Infantry Battalion, working with Lopez police, recovered a .50 caliber machine gun and 179 rounds of ammunition during an operation against suspected NPA remnants in Lopez, Quezon.
Two other individuals, identified as Limuel Casiano Pacon and a man known only as “Pepe,” were also reported killed. As of now, the NPA has not issued a statement confirming or disputing the incident.
Dec. 23 | Brgy. Burabod, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur
The Philippine Army claim that five (5) suspected members of the NPA were killed during an operation. According to the 9th Infantry Division, the fatalities included three alleged leaders under the Bicol Regional Party Committee.
Christopher "Bal" Endrinal, who was reportedly head of the Regional Urban Committee, Ramil "Paeng" Recto, identified as a platoon leader under KLG1, SRC2 and Danilo "Ter/Dado" Budino, identified as a leader under KLG2, SRC2.
Police have not named suspects so far and say follow-up investigations are ongoing. No armed group has claimed responsibility for the Dec. 24 killing, including the NPA.
Dec. 24 | Brgy. Camansi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental
A 55 year-old woman was shot dead inside her home according to police reports. The victim, identified as Warlita, was the sister-in-law of Alberto Jimenez, who was killed on Dec. 13 and accused of being an intel asset.
The victim was the widow of an NPA member killed in a 2022 encounter in the same barangay. Police said unidentified assailants opened fire and fled toward nearby rice fields. Investigators recovered several .45-caliber shells, a 9mm cartridge case, and deformed slugs.
Dec. 13 | Brgy. Pitogo, Cataingan, Masbate
Government troops of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Battalion lede by a 2Lt. Reynaldo Taladua surrounded a house where an NPA unit hadbeen resting. A firefight then broke out, during which two soldiers and one NPA cadre were killed.
The Army accused the NPA of insincerity, saying the attack contradicted the CPP’s declaration of a Christmas truce. The CPP–NPA, however, countered that the action did not violate any ceasefire, stressing that the truce covers only December 25–26 and December 31–January 1.
Dec. 15 | Brgy. Poponton, Las Navas, Northern Samar
According to the 19th Infantry Battalion, soldiers traveling with barangay officials for a supposed "peace activity" in Brgy. Poponton came under fire around 4:45 p.m, with no casualties on both sides.
The CPP meanwhile claimed the engagement was an "active defense" operation triggered by advancing Army troops preparing to attack, and said the explosives used were command-detonated devices, which they argue are not covered by the Ottawa landmine ban.
Dec. 19 | Brgy. Cabungan, Balatan, Camarines Sur
A clash between troops of the Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Battalion and the NPA resulted in the deaths of at least two soldiers, aliases 1LT JB and Sgt. Jer, and injuries to three others, Sgt Arnold, Sgt JC and Sgt Ben.
The military said the troops were on security operations when explosions described as anti-personnel mines were detonated, followed by gunfire. Army officials then condemned the incident, calling it a violation of international humanitarian law.
The encounter reportedly involved about three NPA fighters, who later withdrew from the site. No confirmed casualties were reported on the NPA side.
Details remain limited pending verification from both military, local and pro-NPA sources.
Dec. 19 | Brgy. Abang, Bucay, Abra
A brief clash broke out between troops of the 77th Infantry Battalion and suspected members of the NPA’s Ilocos–Cordillera Regional Committee at around 7:03 a.m. According to Army reports, one soldier was wounded in action during the exchange.
Local sources confirmed that a woman was killed in the area on Dec. 20, but independent verification of the NPA’s accusations and the broader circumstances surrounding the incident remains limited. Authorities have not yet released an official report or response.
Dec. 20 | Brgy. Camansi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental
The Armando Sumayang Jr. Command of the NPA claimed responsibility for the killing of Virginia Salmorenante, an alleged intel asset and a local quarry manager. This is the 18th such operation by the NPA in Negros.
In its statement, the group alleged that Salmorenante helped security forces identify and accompany troops during the Nov. 30, 2022 operation in which NDF consultant Ericson Acosta and Joseph Jimenez were killed.