Five former rebels in Northern Mindanao have been reintegrated into society after receiving their Notice of Decision for the Grant of Amnesty, which confirms that their past offenses committed while they were part of the rebel group have been officially forgiven by the government.

The certificates of amnesty were handed to the former rebels by the 4th Infantry Division (4ID), together with the Local Amnesty Board CDO, and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The amnesty covers all political and public order-related crimes committed while they were members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Authorities said the five were former members of different NPA units involved in several armed encounters with the military over the past years.

“Ang convergence program ng ating gobyerno ay talagang unprecedented napakalakas ng ating whole of a nation approach and this time na-approve na at na-implement na ang gitawag nato nga amnesty program,” 4ID Assistant Division Commander, Brigadier General Consolito Yecla, said.

DSWD and the Department of Agriculture (DA) gave them financial and livelihood assistance.

“Meaning to say tanan nga nareport ug legitimate nga mga nialsa nilihay sa atong panggamhanan nga ni-surrender dunay programa nga gimugna usa na niana ang DSWD,” DSWD-10 Director, Ramel Jamen, said.

The Local Amnesty Board urged the former rebels to maintain their new way of life and to help encourage other remaining combatants to return to the folds of the law.

“Ang amnestiya nagapasaylo ug nagpapas sa tanang political crimes nga nabuhat ninyo samtang kamo anaa pa sa CPP-NPA-NDF mag-atubang kamo sa balaod nga walay warrants of arrest ug kung nahuman na ang inyong kaso mawala ang epekto sa inyong conviction,” Regional Prosecutor, Atty. Merlynn Barola-Uy, said.

One of the beneficiaries, Ka Nene, who was an active combatant and nurse with the NPA from 2012 to 2021, thanked the government for the second chance. Ka Nene surrendered during her pregnancy and has not returned since.

“Dako kayo akong pasalamat ug kalipay gyud karon sir nga panahon nga gihatag nila sa amo. Sa ako hagit gyud nako nga dako kayo nga pinaskohan namo, namo karon nga bisan wala ang cash assistance pero naa ang amnesty dako kayo ni nako nga pinaskohan,” Ka Nene said.