Baguio-based Local Amnesty Board (LAB) urged former rebels to avail of the remaining one year to avail of the government’s ongoing amnesty program for them to be able to go back to their normal life and join the mainstream society.
NAC Peace Program Officer and LAB-Baguio head Secretariat Yvonne Bestre said that former rebels have until March 13, 2026 to file their respective applications for amnesty while members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB) have until March 4, 2026 to apply for similar amnesty.
She claimed that the LAB will also be coordinating with the various jail facilities in the different parts of the Cordillera to look into those detained former rebels facing political crimes to convince them to avail of the ongoing amnesty to facilitate their immediate release and for them to be able to live a normal life without fear of being charged or arrested.
Bestre clarified that those who can apply for amnesty in the case of those belonging to the Communist Party of the Philippines – National Democratic Front – New Peoples Army (CPP-NDF-NPA) are those former rebels or those who already surrendered and will soon give up their arms in favor of the government who are facing political crimes or crimes related to their ideology.
For his part, former City Prosecutor Elmer Manuel Sagsago pointed out that a person who will be granted amnesty will mean that the government will forgive his or her offenses and that he or she will be able to live peacefully with his or her family and without fear of being arrested again or charged.
He said that friends, relatives or family members of former rebels wanting to avail of the government’s amnesty program can get in touch with the LAB, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the offices of local chief executives, the city or provincial prosecutor’s offices, or the nearest military or police stations for them to be assisted in applying for the desired amnesty.
Sagsago added that individuals charged with rebellion, sedition, in sighting to sedition among other political crimes and those related to political crimes such as murder, theft, robbery among others can apply for the grant of amnesty on or before the prescribed deadline.
The Baguio-based LAB is the ninth that was established since the effectivity of the government’s amnesty program that took effect in 2021 during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte and was strengthened during the present term of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
Deputy City Prosecutor Alfred Ganaban, echoed that the ongoing amnesty program is to help former rebels to start a new lease in life and that concerned government agencies and local governments are ready to provide the needed assistance for them to be able to complete the process and be granted the amnesty on or the prescribed deadline.
Ganaban urged the concerned individuals to already start getting in touch with the LAB and apply for amnesty so that their applications could be immediately processed and they will be granted the necessary amnesty before the deadline that was set by the issued orders. By Dexter A. See
