Countering Mass Organization of Communist Terrorist Groups in the Province of Pangasinan: A Community-Based Approach

Abstract

This study examined the level of participation of Local Government Units (LGUs) in Pangasinan in supporting the Philippine National Police (PNP) program to counter the mass organization of Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs), and identified key challenges that affect such participation. Anchored on an Input–Process–Output framework and guided by community policing and human security perspectives, the research employed a descriptive mixed-method design. Using a validated survey questionnaire, data were collected from 325 respondents PNP personnel, barangay officials, and community residents from 13 municipalities and 31 previously CTG-infiltrated barangays. Quantitative analysis using weighted means, percentage distribution, and Point-Biserial Correlation (SPSS v.20) showed that, overall, LGU participation was rated as Very High (grand mean = 4.22). PNP personnel rated LGU engagement as Very High, while barangay officials and residents rated it as High. The highest ratings were observed in enhanced participatory decision-making and civic space, educating respect for human rights, diversity and culture, local government capacity for service delivery and security, and work with media and social media to promote alternative discourse. Alternative socioeconomic opportunities and rule-of-law and human-rights-based approaches, though still rated High, registered comparatively lower mean scores, indicating areas needing further strengthening. The most frequently cited challenges included the lack of experts in violent extremism, poor security and monitoring, limited ability to detect extremist activities, and inadequate technological skills for tracking online recruitment. Correlation analysis revealed significant weak to moderate positive relationships between LGU participation and perceived lack of expertise and weak security/monitoring, and a weak negative relationship with the absence of mechanisms to trace fake identities. The study concludes that while LGUs in Pangasinan are highly engaged partners in countering CTGs, their effectiveness is constrained by technical, security, and capacity gaps. It recommends enhancing socio-economic interventions, deepening participatory governance, mainstreaming human-rights-based approaches, upgrading technological and analytical capabilities, and strengthening community-based security structures such as BPATs and auxiliary forces to sustain insurgency-free conditions and support long-term peace and development.