KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews / 7 January) – With the deadline for amnesty application just two months away, the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) has called on former rebels to apply at their nearest Local Amnesty Boards (LABs) for the opportunity to begin life anew in mainstream society.
This developed as President Marcos Jr. granted amnesty to seven individuals last December 26, following the first batch of nine approved in September 2025.
The total number of amnesty granted under the Marcos administration is 16, the latest NAC data showed.
Of the amnesty granted, 15 are former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front (CPP–NPA–NDF) and one from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
In a statement, the NAC called on interested applicants to apply at their nearest LABs nationwide for the opportunity “to begin a renewed life and a path toward reintegration into mainstream society.”
So far, the NAC recorded a total of 7,171 applications at the end of 2025.
This is a reflection of the growing interest in and trust of former combatants in the government’s amnesty program, the NAC statement said.
Based on the NAC data, 5,755 former members of the CPP–NPA–NDF applied for amnesty, 928 from the MILF, 396 from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and 92 from the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas–Revolutionary Proletarian Army–Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA-ABB).
In a recent interview, NAC Commissioner Jamar Kulayan urged former rebels to apply for amnesty.
The NAC constituted LABs across the country where interested individuals can apply for amnesty.
For Luzon, the LABs are located at the NAC Central Office in Quezon City, Baguio City, La Union, Quezon, Isabela, Albay and Pampanga.
In the Visayas, the LABs are in the provinces of Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Leyte, Samar and Bohol.
In Mindanao, these are in the cities of Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Pagadian, Butuan, Koronadal and Isabela in Basilan, and Jolo municipality in Sulu.
“If they are granted amnesty, their civil and political rights are restored,” Kulayan told MindaNews.
As of Wednesday, there are 57 days left until the deadline of application on March 4 for former members of the MILF, MNLF and RPM-P/RPA-ABB, and 66 days or on March 13 for former members of the CPP–NPA–NDF.
For the MILF, Kulayan said the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Unity and Reconciliation (OPAPRU) was targeting 1,005 members to apply for amnesty “without prejudice to the decommissioning of its combatants.”
The only amnesty grantee from the MILF so far, Jannati Mimbantas, commander of the MILF Northeastern Mindanao Front, has called on fellow MILF members to also apply for amnesty.
He has been serving as a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority or Bangsamoro Parliament under the name Basit Abas.
The NAC was established during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, through Executive Order (EO)125, series of 2021, and amended by EO 47, series of 2023 under Marcos.
Crimes covered by amnesty include, among others, rebellion or insurrection, sedition, and illegal possession of firearms, ammunition or explosives, provided that these crimes or offenses were committed in furtherance of, incident to, or in connection with the crimes of rebellion or insurrection. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)
