Ejercito urges former rebels given amnesty to surrender firearms

MANILA, Philippines — Senator JV Ejercito on Thursday urged former members of rebel groups who were recently granted amnesty to surrender their firearms as a sign of their sincerity in pursuing peace with the government.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. granted the amnesty on November 24.

The rebel returnees belonged to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF); Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade; Moro Islamic Liberation Front; and Moro National Liberation Front.

“Sa akin siguro dapat isama rin dito ang usapin ng kanilang pagsurrender ng kanilang mga armas dahil ayon doon sa ating batas, ‘yung Anti-Terrorism, the government should not be talking or negotiating with terrorists pero syempre gusto na rin natin siguro wakasan itong decades-long na rebellion na ito,” Ejercito said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.

(In my opinion, the matter of surrendering their weapons should also be included here because, according to our law, the Anti-Terrorism [law], the government should not be talking or negotiating with terrorists, but of course, we also want to end this decades-long rebellion.)

When asked how else former rebels’ sincerity in seeking peace will be ensured, Ejercito said that the commitment of legitimate representatives of the rebel groups is enough.

However, he emphasized that surrendering their firearms is indeed “non-negotiable” for him.

READ: Bongbong Marcos granted amnesty to rebel returnees, insurgents – EO

“Ako talaga very particular ako sa kanilang pag lay down ng armas, pag surrender ng armas, kasi that would show their sincerity on their part that they are indeed serious in pursuing peace talks with the government,” he said.

READ: House panels concur with Marcos amnesty offer to ex-rebels

(I am really very particular about them laying down their arms and surrendering their arms, because that would show their sincerity on their part and show that they are indeed serious about pursuing peace talks with the government.)

“Non-negotiable sa akin ‘yung pag give up ng armed struggle kasi ayaw ko nang maulit ‘yung mga past experiences, bad experiences kung saan ginagamit lang po ng NDF at CPP-NPA ‘yung peace talks to buy time at para magkaroon sila ng oras magpalakas lalo,” Ejercito said.

(Giving up the armed struggle is non-negotiable for me because I don’t want that bad experience where the NDF and CPP-NPA only used the peace talks to buy time so they could have time and get stronger to happen again.)