MANILA, Philippines — Former rebels who are seeking amnesty are “most welcome” to join the Philippine Army, its spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala told INQUIRER.net on Thursday.
Dema-ala made the reaction as Commissioner Jamar Kulayan of the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) revealed to INQUIRER.net that around 80,000 rebels are eligible to avail of the government reprieve.
“If joining the ranks of the Philippine Army will help them transition, reconstruct their lives and secure a brighter future they are most welcome as long as they have satisfied the basic requirements of the Philippine Army and passed the vetting process,” Dema-ala said in a text message.
On Wednesday, the Senate adopted the resolution that concurs with Presidential Proclamation No. 404, which seeks to grant amnesty to members of the New People’s Army (NPA), Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
With this, the IRR that would authorize the amnesty application could now be released by the NAC, which is in charge of the amnesty program for former members of the NPA, RPMP-RPA-ABB, MILF and MNLF.
Kulayan said around 39,000 to 40,000 former NPA members and most of the 40,000 decommissioned MILF combatants are eligible for amnesty.
More or less 2,000 former MNLF fighters and 1,700 former members of the RPMP-RPA-ABB could apply for the program, according to him.
The former rebels could now apply for amnesty even before the release of the program’s IRR.
“The Philippine Army extends its welcome to former rebels choosing to return to the folds of the law,” Dema-ala said.
“This is an opportunity to finally build a peaceful, productive, and comfortable life which every Filipino deserves.”
In December last year, the Philippine National Police said almost 300 former MILF and MNLF members took their oath as police officers who have been assigned at the BARRM.