List of attacks attributed to the CPP–NPA

The following is a list of chronological attacks attributed to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), and its armed wing the New People's Army (NPA) which is a major participant in the Communist rebellion in the Philippines.

List

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has justified the designation of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as a terrorist organization, citing 1,506 incidents from 2010 to 2020 involving attacks on civilians and military personnel. Brig. Gen. Joel Alejandro Nacnac reported that the CPP-NPA recruited and utilized 544 child soldiers, with some killed, wounded, or abused. The group also carried out 532 attacks on civilian properties, with 2017 recording the highest number. Moreover, the CPP-NPA was responsible for 141 incidents involving anti-personnel mines, causing 224 casualties. "Willful killings" attributed to the group resulted in 373 deaths, with most incidents occurring in 2019. The CPP-NPA is designated as a terrorist organization by multiple countries, including the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. The AFP supports the Anti-Terrorism Council's resolutions designating 29 individuals as terrorists and aims to enhance counterterrorism efforts.^[1]

General list

Attack	Date	Location	Deaths	Injuries	CPP-NPA admitted responsibility	Notes	Ref.
Plaza Miranda bombing	August 21, 1971	Plaza Miranda, Manila	9	95	No	Also blamed on the government of President Ferdinand Marcos. An article from The Washington Post alleged that high ranking CPP official said that the bombing was a means to provoke Marcos' administration. CPP founder Jose Maria Sison has denied the communist rebels role in the bombing.	[2][3]
1976 logging truck attack	November 22, 1976	Enroute Mambusao, Davao Oriental	6	3	No	Suspected communist rebels launched an ambush against a logging truck killing including a municipal police chief.
1976 Clark Airbase raid	November 22, 1976	Pampanga	—	—	No	Suspected communist rebels staged a raid on 5 barrios situated on the perimeter of the Clark Air Base, seizing 43 weapons from the local CHDF militia.
Clark Airbase attack	October 28, 1987	Pampanga	—	3	Yes	Militants conducted coordinated attacks near Clark Air Base, killing three U.S. service members.	[4]
Quezon City attack	April 21, 1989	Quezon City	—	1	Yes	A U.S. Army colonel serving as the chief of the Ground Forces Division of the Joint U.S.-Military Assistance Group was ambushed and killed by militants.	[4]
Rano massacre	June 25, 1989	Digos, Davao del Sur	37–39	—	Yes	Occurred in a chapel affiliated with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. Most of the victims were part of the Ituman anti-communist vigilante group who refused to pay "revolutionary taxes" to the NPA. The NPA accepted responsibility but justified their action as retaliation for previous attacks.	[5][6][7][8]
Clark Airbase attack	May 13, 1990	Pampanga	2	—	Yes	In an attack near Clark Air Base, militants killed two United States service members.	[4]
Quezon province attack	November 19 to 25, 2005	Quezon	several	—	Yes	Attack against Philippine forces killing several soldiers, destroying communication sites, and various government properties	[9]
Iloilo attack	November 24, 2017	Maasin, Iloilo	1	10	Yes	A policeman was killed, and ten others were injured when New People's Army (NPA) rebels ambushed their convoy en route to the Regional Public Safety Battalion in Maasin, Iloilo.	[10]
2021 Masbate City blast	June 8, 2021	Masbate City	2	1	Yes	A bomb, either a landmine, or an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by the NPA to target government forces kills footballer Keith Absalon and his cousin Nolven as they were jogging by. After widespread condemnation, the NPA apologizes for the incident.	[11][12][13][14]
Borongan attack	December 15, 2021	Visayas, and Mindanao	several	3	Yes	Militants ambushed Philippine civilians and government personnel engaged in humanitarian and disaster response efforts ahead of Typhoon Odette.	[4]
Masbate attack	August 12, 2022	Brgy. Bonifacio, Uson, Masbate	—	3	Yes	A bomb attack against unarmed civilians causing injuries of a local official and two others	[15]

Assassinations

Target	Date	Location	CPP-NPA admitted responsibility	Notes	Ref.
Porferio Branzuela	December 27, 1988	Plaridel, Misamis Occidental	Yes	Mayor of Calamba, Misamis Occidental. Killed along with a police driver in an ambush.	[16]
James Rowe	1989	Quezon City	Yes	American colonel working with the Joint US Military Advisory Group. He and his driver were attacked while en route to Rowe's workplace for being directly involved in the counter-insurgency.	[17][18][19][20]
Javier Hizon	January 5, 1990	Mexico, Pampanga	Yes	Mayor of Mexico. Killed along with a police officer as he left his workplace.	[21]
Conrado Balweg	December 31, 1999	Malibcong, Abra	Yes	Former NPA member and Cordillera People’s Liberation Army leader. Killed at his residence due to "crimes against the Cordilleran people and the Revolutionary Movement" and his role in splitting the communist movement in the Cordilleras	[22]
Carlito Pentecostes Jr.	April 21, 2014	Gonzaga, Cagayan	Yes	Mayor of Gonzaga. Killed in front of the municipal hall after a flag-raising ceremony for his alleged role in the arrest of a rebel leader and for supporting black sand mining in his town.[23]
Mario Okinlay	2014	Impasugong, Bukidnon	Yes	Mayor of Impasugong. Killed in a roadside ambush for supporting the government's counter-insurgency program.	[24]

See also

• Timeline of the communist rebellion in the Philippines

References

1. Nepomuceno, Priam (May 17, 2021). "1,506 atrocities in 10 years justify CPP-NPA terror tag". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
2. "Fact Check | Claim that Ninoy as mastermind of Plaza Miranda bombing is historical fact is false". News5. 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
3. Gregg Jones (1989-08-04). "Ex-communists Party Behind Manila Bombing". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
4. "Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CCP/NPA)". Counterterrorism Guide - dni.gov. September 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
5. Richburg, Keith B. (27 June 1989). "39 slain at church, says Manila". Washington Post. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
6. "Massacre heightens NPA's bad image United Church leader says". UCA News. 4 July 1989. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
7. Palicte, Che (25 June 2021). "1989 Rano massacre remembered with monument unveiling". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
8. "Communist Army Admits Massacre". The Victoria Advocate. Davao City. Associated Press. 28 June 1989. p. 6C. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
9. "'Another win vs terrorism': DOJ secures conviction of key CPP-NPA member". Department of Justice - Republic of the Philippines. May 22, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
10. Guadalquiver, Nanette (November 27, 2017). "NegOcc police on full alert to preempt NPA attack". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
11. Araja, Rio; Cruz, Maricel (12 June 2021). "Lawyers, rights agency weigh in on Absalon case". Manila Standard. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
12. Relativo, James (7 June 2021). "CPP-NPA iniimbestigahan football player death matapos akusahan ng PNP". Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Tagalog). Retrieved 22 June 2021.
13. Villanueva, Raymund (14 June 2021). "NDFP: Military blurs distinction between banned and allowable landmines". Bulatlat. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
14. "CPP-NPA takes responsibility for killing of labor leader, UAAP football player in Masbate". Rappler. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
15. Nepomuceno, Priam (August 14, 2023). "Nat'l Security Council scores latest NPA attack in Masbate". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
16. "Guerillas Kill Mayor In Ambush". AP NEWS. Associated Press. 28 December 1988. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
17. Fowler, Glenn (22 April 1989). "Col. James Rowe, 51, War Hero, Is Killed in an Ambush in Manila". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
18. Keith B. Richburg (1989-04-22). "U.S. ADVISOR KILLED IN MANILA". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
19. "Trial court orders release of NPA member convicted for death of US Army Col. Rowe". Manila Bulletin. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
20. "Philippine Rebels Say They Killed U.S. Colonel". The New York Times. 23 April 1989. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
21. "Philippine Rebels Kill Mayor and Threaten G.I.'s". The New York Times. 7 January 1990. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
22. "Priest Turned Rebel killed by Communist Guerrillas Led by Brother". UCA News. 6 January 2000. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
23. "NPA admits killing mayor over black sand mining". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
24. Romero, Alexis (7 July 2014). "NPA admits killing Bukidnon mayor". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 24 September 2022.