Other Names
New People's Army (NPA)
Description
The military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the NPA is a
Maoist group formed in March 1969 with the aim of overthrowing the government
through protracted guerrilla warfare. The chairman of the CPP's Central
Committee and the NPA’s founder, Jose Maria Sison, directs all CPP and NPA
activity from the Netherlands, where he lives in self-imposed exile. Fellow
Central Committee member and director of the CPP’s National Democratic Front
(NDF) Luis Jalandoni also lives in the Netherlands and has become a Dutch
citizen. Although primarily a rural-based guerrilla group, the NPA has an active
urban infrastructure to conduct terrorism and uses city-based assassination
squads. Derives most of its funding from contributions of supporters in the
Philippines, Europe, and elsewhere, and from so-called revolutionary taxes
extorted from local businesses.
Activities
The NPA primarily targets Philippine security forces, politicians, judges,
government informers, former rebels who wish to leave the NPA, and alleged
criminals. Opposes any US military presence in the Philippines and attacked US
military interests before the US base closures in 1992. Press reports in 1999
and in late 2001 indicated that the NPA is again targeting US troops
participating in joint military exercises as well as US Embassy personnel. The
NPA claimed responsibility for the assassination of congressmen from Quezon in
May 2001 and Cagayan in June 2001 and many other killings. In January 2002, the
NPA publicly expressed its intent to target US personnel in the Philippines.
Strength
Slowly growing; estimated at more than 10,000.
Location/Area of Operation
Operates in rural Luzon, Visayas, and parts of Mindanao. Has cells in Manila and
other metropolitan centers.
External Aid
Unknown.