Nearly 3,000 rebels applied for amnesty — NAC

Close to 3,000 rebels from various groups have applied for amnesty with the Philippine government, the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) reported Friday.

NAC Chairperson Leah Tanodra-Armamento said most of the amnesty applicants were from the Communist Party of the Philippines, its armed wing, the New People's Army, and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

This was followed by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and Rebolusyarnong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/ Revolutionary Proletarian Army/ Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB).

"Ang pinakamarami po yung CPP/NPA/NDF na members at ito po sila ay mostly coming from Caraga Region, Eastern Visayas, at saka Northern Mindanao," Armamento told Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon in an interview.

(Most of them are members of the CPP-NPA-NDF and they are mostly coming from Caraga Region, Eastern Visayas, and Northern Mindanao.)

"Ang sunod na pinakamarami ay 'yung MILF natin. Ang MILF natin is 778. Tapos yung ating MNLF. At sunod ang pinakakaunti po natin yung RPMP/RPA/ABB. Ito ay mga 67," she added.

(The next highest number is from the MILF. Amnesty applicants from the MILF numbered 778. Then, the MNLF. And the fewest are from RPMP-RPA-ABB with around 67.)

The NAC is targeting to accommodate 10,000 applications for amnesty. 

Before this year's Independence Day last Thursday, Armamento said the NAC issued a "safe conduct pass" to 25 amnesty applicants.

A safe conduct pass protects amnesty applicants from arrest, detention, and prosecution. It guarantees freedom of movement of the applicants while their amnesty applications are being considered.

In November 2023, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. granted amnesty to rebels through Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405 and 406, which cover the RPMP-RPA-ABB, CPP-NPA-NDF, MILF, and MNLF. — VDV, GMA Integrated News