The Local Amnesty Board (LAB) in Catbalogan City, Samar has received 150 amnesty applications since late last year.
Jazmine Odyssa Lutao of LAB Catbalogan said in a phone interview on Tuesday that 50 of the applicants are from Samar while 100 are from Northern Samar.
Twenty-three are being assisted by the Philippine Army’s 87th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in San Jose de Buan town, 21 from the 46th IB in Calbiga, and six from the Army’s 3rd IB in San Jorge, all in Samar province.
The 43rd IB based in Lope de Vega town assists the other 62 applicants, and the 19th IB in Catubig town in Northern Samar province facilitated the application of 38 others.
LAB Catbalogan, along with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity – Amnesty Management Unit Eastern Visayas and special project teams, recently visited the towns of Calbiga and San Jorge in Samar to receive the amnesty applications of former rebels under the supervision and care of the two military battalions.
Lutao explained to the former rebels the government’s amnesty program.
They also took the oath of allegiance to the Philippine government before their interview process.
“We will now conduct deliberations on the amnesty applications of former rebels now that the Philippine National Police has already designated primary and alternative representatives to the local amnesty board,” Lutao said.
Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Proclamation No. 404, also known as the Amnesty Program, former members and current members of the communist insurgents have until March 14, 2026 to submit their amnesty applications.
The program is not limited to New People’s Army rebels but extends to members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front, as well. (PNA)