About 45 former members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army who are now part of the “Kapatiran” group filed amnesty applications during a ceremony at the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion Headquarters in Brgy. Bato, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, Thursday, March 6.
The program was led by Lea Tanodrra-Armamento, chairperson of the National Amnesty Commission, with members of the Local Amnesty Board-Bacolod City, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity, and the Army.
Armamento said that this event aims to help former rebels file their amnesty applications for them to enjoy government services, which include financial assistance, scholarships, housing projects, among others.
The 45 amnesty applicants were members of the Kapatiran-San Carlos City Chapter.
The applications came 25 years after the Kapatiran group signed a peace agreement with the government in 2000.
Thirteen former rebels also filed amnesty applications in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, on Wednesday.
The NAC chairperson said they hope to help 10,000 applicants file for amnesty at the national level.*