More than 900 former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and its breakaway group Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) from Western Visayas and Negros Occidental applied for amnesty, the military reported Thursday, March 19.
Capt. Jessie Jun Ebalan, head of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) Public Affairs Office, said the most applicants in their jurisdiction were processed through the Local Amnesty Board Bacolod (LAB Bacolod).
He said their consolidated data showed that of the 598 applicants from LAB Bacolod, 294 were former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
Additionally, 281 former CPP-NPA-NDF members and 38 former RPA-ABB members applied through LAB Iloilo.
“This is already a huge accomplishment in terms of the number of former rebels who surrendered and those who applied for amnesty,” Ebalan said in an interview on Thursday.
He said those who did not apply might have transferred outside Panay or found work elsewhere.
Ebalan said that while awaiting the results of their applications, former members of the communist terrorist group already received support through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
“Most of them are already E-CLIP beneficiaries and have reintegrated in their community,” he said.
He added that amnesty applicants’ documents will be endorsed to the National Amnesty Commission for action, while they receive safe conduct passes until the application process continues. *PNA
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