Eastern Visayas tops list of ex-rebels seeking amnesty
TACLOBAN CITY—Eastern Visayas has recorded the highest number of former communist rebels who applied for amnesty in the country.
Imelda Bonifacio, regional program manager of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, said that from December 2024 to the middle of March this year, 443 former rebels have applied for amnesty under the program being offered by the national government.
“Perhaps this is because we have the largest number of NPA (New People’s Army) members,” told reporters here on March 18 to explain why Eastern Visayas ranked first in the number of amnesty applicants.
President Marcos, during his visit to Tacloban City on March 14, met with some of these former rebels, including key former leaders of the communist armed group in the region.
“His personal visit will help boost our campaign to encourage more former rebels to surrender and avail themselves of the benefits being offered by the government,” Bonifacio said.
The President was here to lead the oathtaking of Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, who also chairs the Regional Peace and Order Council, and Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan as chairpersons of the Local Amnesty Boards for Leyte and Samar provinces, respectively.
The Local Amnesty Board processes the applications of former rebels who wish to avail themselves of the amnesty program under the Marcos administration.
Livelihood package
Of the 443 former NPA members who have so far applied for amnesty, 334 are from Samar Island, comprising the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar.
A total of 109 former rebels are from the provinces of Leyte, Biliran, and Southern Leyte.
Those whose applications are approved for amnesty will receive livelihood and financial assistance from the government and will no longer be prosecuted for offenses committed while they were part of the armed group.
However, those with pending criminal cases unrelated to their activities as communist insurgents, such as rape, will still be prosecuted, as these offenses are not covered under the amnesty program.
Bonifacio is encouraging active NPA members to take advantage of the amnesty program which is set to end in March next year.
