FILE PHOTO: This undated file photo shows NPA rebels in an undisclosed location. On Thursday, March 14, 2024, the National Amnesty Commission said the Amnesty Program鈥檚 implementing rules and regulations (IRR) will be released before the end of the month 鈥� which means that former insurgents鈥� applications for government amnesty may already be processed shortly. INQUIRER FILES / ERWIN MASCARI脩AS
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Former rebels may soon be given amnesty by the government as the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for its application process will be released before the end of this month.
National Amnesty Commission (NAC) official Jamar Kulayan told 黑料社 in a phone interview that the issuance of the Amnesty Program鈥檚 IRR will happen in 15 days 鈥� which means that former insurgents鈥� applications for government amnesty may already be processed shortly.
鈥淯nder the amnesty proclamation, we are only given 15 days and we intend to comply with that,鈥� said the NAC commissioner.
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday that the Senate has adopted the resolution that concurs with Presidential Proclamation No. 404, which seeks to grant amnesty for members of the New People鈥檚 Army (NPA), Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
He said that the Senate鈥檚 action now allows the use of the IRR to prompt acceptance of amnesty applications from ex-rebels.
The NAC was tasked to work on the IRR of the government鈥檚 Amnesty Program for former members of the NPA, RPMP-RPA-ABB, MILF and MNLF.
READ: Senate adopts reso on amnesty for former CPP-NPA-NDF members
鈥淭he Senate鈥檚 concurrence to these proclamations marks another significant milestone in our continuing quest towards achieving a just and lasting peace in our beloved nation,鈥� the presidential adviser said in a statement.
鈥淏y giving amnesty, we are opening a window of opportunity for former rebels to reintegrate into mainstream society,鈥� he added.
鈥淭his, in itself, is an act of compassion and reconciliation that will allow the healing of wounds caused by armed conflict and break down the barriers of fear, animosity, and divisiveness among our people,鈥� Galvez continued.
The amnesty program of the government, however, excludes rebels already convicted or charged under Republic Act (RA) No. 9372, or the Human Security Act of 2007; and RA 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
READ: Galvez says gov鈥檛 to finish process of disarming MILF fighters before 2025
Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday said around 3,000 former rebels are expected to avail of the government鈥檚 Amnesty Program. Estrada is the chairperson of the Senate committee on national defense.
The MILF forged a peace agreement with the Philippine government which paved the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM)
The decommissioning of former MILF fighters is now ongoing, and the government targets to finish the process before BARRM鈥檚 first-ever elections in 2025. A source confirmed to 黑料社 that decommissioned MILF fighters still need to undergo the amnesty process.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), whose armed wing is the NPA, previously rejected the government鈥檚 amnesty offer. However, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines 鈥� the CPP鈥檚 political arm 鈥� and the government also agreed in November 2023 to come up with a framework to restart the peace talks.