NAC: Over 2,000 rebels applied for amnesty, deadline set for March 2026

The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) said Tuesday that more than 2,000 rebels have already applied for amnesty, reminding that the deadline for application is on March 2026. 

NAC chairperson Leah Tanodra-Armamento said that most of the amnesty applicants are also seeking a safe conduct pass (SCP). 

“Yung applicants as to the amnesty, we have as of April 21, we have a total of 2,006. Most of the applicants are asking for the safe conduct pass,” she said in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. 

(As of April 21, we have a total of 2,006 applicants for amnesty. Most of the applicants are asking for the safe conduct pass.) 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier authorized the NAC to issue SCPs to former rebels who are seeking to apply for amnesty. The SCP will provide applicants protection from arrest and detention. 

Under Memorandum Order No. 36, the NAC is authorized to issue SCPs to amnesty applicants from the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade, Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the Moro National Liberation Front.

NAC explained that the SCP they issued before cannot stand against any arrest warrants. 

“Previous to the issuance of the President, ang safe conduct pass na authority namin cannot stand against the warrant of arrest. At ang sabi naman sa amin ng mga pulis, hindi naman pwede hindi i-serve ang warrant of arrest, otherwise, ma-contempt naman kami ng court. So we have to restrain in giving that safe conduct pass,” said Armamento. 

(Prior to the issuance of the President, the safe conduct pass we issued cannot stand against the warrant of the arrest. We understand that the police must serve the warrant of arrest, otherwise, they could be cited in contempt by the court. So we have to restrain from giving that safe conduct pass.) 

“So there is a directive from the President to cooperate and support the safe conduct pass and for the Department of Justice prosecutor to either file a motion or not object to the motion to suspend the proceedings before the court,” she added. 

The NAC reminded rebels to apply as soon as possible. 

“Hinihikayat namin ang mga rebelde na hindi pa nakapag-apply pa ng amnesty, mag-apply na po kayo ngayon, kasi hanggang March 20b26 ang deadline for application,” said Armamento.  

(We ask rebels who have yet to apply for amnesty to do it now because the deadline is only until March 2026.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News