Over 700 former rebels in Bicol apply for gov’t amnesty program

LEGAZPI CITY – A total of 719 former rebels in the Bicol Region have applied for the government amnesty program, according to the Local Amnesty Board Secretariat of the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) on Wednesday.

Philipp Listanco, NAC regional director, urged eligible former and active rebels to apply before the deadline on Friday, March 13.

“When applying for amnesty, all you need is yourself and any valid identification card. That is all we require. But the decision to apply for amnesty must come from the person,” he said in an interview.

READ: Amnesty body calls on ex-rebels to apply as deadline nears

“We are not forcing anyone. We continuously encourage them so they can decide for themselves. They must decide on their own that they want to ask for forgiveness from the government so they can have a second chance to live a happy life in our country.”

Listanco said that as of the latest count, the nationwide total has reached about 11,000 applications.

He added that the government has so far approved 16 amnesty applications. Of this number, 15 were granted to members of the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in Mindanao, while one was granted to a commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“Our hope is strong, and the chances of approval are high, but at this moment we are focused on the last days of the application period,” he said.

The government’s amnesty program is intended for former rebels who have legal cases related to acts committed in pursuit of their political beliefs. Qualified applicants may be granted amnesty, allowing them to reintegrate into mainstream society without prosecution for their past offenses.

Listanco said the commission has already requested an extension of the application period. (with a report from Carlo Martin B. Cruel, OJT/PNA)/coa