MANILA – The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) urged remaining New People's Army (NPA) rebels to avail of the amnesty program offered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. so that they live peacefully with their families.
"We appeal to you to renounce terrorism, lay down your arms, abandon the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA, and take advantage of the amnesty being offered by the President. Return to the fold of the law and live in peace with your families," NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement Friday.
He said applicants only have until March 4, 2026, two years since Congress' concurrence to the President's amnesty proclamations.
He said this is the right time for NPA remnants to abandon the senseless decades-long armed struggle against the government.
The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) earlier said its existing Local Amnesty Boards (LABs) have received 578 amnesty applications as of July 12.
It said 497 of the applicants are former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA- NDF).
Two of the applicants are from the "Rebolusyonaryong Partidong Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade" (RPMP-RPA-ABB).
Meanwhile, 33 are from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and 46 are from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF were granted amnesty by the President under Proclamation No. 404.
Members of the RPMPRPA- ABB, MILF, and MNLF were granted amnesty under Proclamation Nos. 403, 405, and 406, respectively. Under these Proclamations, issued on Nov. 23, 2023, members of these rebel groups have two years to apply for amnesty. (PNA)
