Young New People聮s Army (NPA) rebels stand in formation during the recent anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in a town in Misamis Oriental province on Dec. 26, 2016. (Jigger J. Jerusalem)
Update
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Communist Party of the Philippines Friday firmly rejected the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief鈥檚 call for amnesty.
The Marxist鈥揕eninist鈥揗aoist revolutionary organization firmly believes its armed wing鈥檚 members will stay true to its cause and unwavering loyalty to the movement.
鈥淭he call for amnesty for members of the New People鈥檚 Army (NPA) is a sugar-coated bullet,鈥� CPP spokesperson Marco Valbuena said in a statement.
On Thursday, AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino said he supports other approaches to eradicating the longest-standing communist insurgency in the world, such as providing amnesty to the NPA.
READ: AFP chief backs amnesty for ex-NPA rebels
But Valbuena said the communist armed movement would reject Centino鈥檚 call.
鈥淐entino鈥檚 amnesty proposal will be rejected by revolutionaries who are whole-heartedly committed to serving the oppressed and exploited masses,鈥� he said.
鈥淚n the face of the Marcos regime鈥檚 heightened fascist repression and subservience to foreign economic and geopolitical interests, they are even more determined to arouse, organize and mobilize the people in their聽numbers聽to fight for the country鈥檚 sovereignty and people鈥檚 well-being,鈥� he added.
The Task Force Balik Loob (TFBL), which oversees the implementation of the reintegration program for former rebels, said that since 2016, a total of 37,413 鈥渇ormer rebels鈥� and 鈥渇ormer violent extremists鈥� have returned to the folds of the law.
Of the surrenderees, 10,637 have been presented with immediate livelihood, reintegration benefits, and firearms remuneration through the TFBL鈥檚 Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip).
Established on March 29, 1969, the NPA has 2,112 forces with 1,800 weapons in its arsenal, according to latest military estimates.
At its peak, it had聽25,000 members in 1987, according to Philippine military estimates.