ILOILO City – For hundreds of former insurgents in Western Visayas, the government’s amnesty program is a gateway to a life unburdened by armed struggle.
Officials from the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Western Visayas (RTF ELCAC VI) are urging qualified former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) to take this opportunity to reintegrate into society and build new lives.
As of this week, 216 applications for amnesty have been submitted in the region, including 207 from former CPP-NPA-NDF members and nine from the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB).
A total of 199 applications are now awaiting resolution.
“Applicants must have no hidden agenda when applying for amnesty. We are striving for permanent and lasting peace,” said Colonel Gilbert Gorero, chief of the Operations Division of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), emphasizing that sincerity is key in the process.
RTF ELCAC 6 spokesperson Prosecutor Flosemer Chris Gonzales drew a clear line between those who may be granted amnesty and those who will be disqualified.
“For other crimes, they must be related to their membership in the NPA. Crimes outside of that will disqualify them from amnesty,” he said, noting that individuals involved in human trafficking, rape, child abuse, and sexual assault are automatically excluded.
The region began accepting amnesty applications on July 8, 2024. The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division has played a significant role in assisting former rebels with their documents as they make the transition back into civilian life.
Eligible applicants may file their requests at the Local Amnesty Board offices in Iloilo and Bacolod until March 2026, under the provisions of Proclamation 404./PN
