Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Alleged former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF take their oath as officers of the National Capital Region Police Office facilitate their surrender at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig on December 26, 2022.

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) wants to extend the government’s amnesty program to communist rebels by two years.In its execom meeting at the Palace Wednesday, October 1, the task force’s executive committee recommended the extension of the program’s termination from March 13, 2026 to March 13, 2028.NTF-ELCAC Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said the extension has yet to be approved “pending further review of the Office of the President”.National Amnesty Commission chair Leah Tanodra-Armamento explained the extension seeks to accommodate thousands of potential amnesty applicants and consolidate concurrence from Congress.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in his State of the Nation Address in July <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/-marcos-jr-says-ph-now-more-peaceful-safer-for-human-rights-1835">that there are no guerrilla groups left</a> and that government would work to make sure no more would be formed again.“We got an information from the Task Force Balik-Loob wherein they informed us that they have a total of 50,000 potential applicants and we have the remaining six months to receive the applications,” Armamento said in a press briefing Wednesday, October 1.Armamento also cited data from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity saying that 40,000 decommissioned members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front are also potential applicants for amnesty.The government provides livelihood assistance to former rebels. <div> </div><div>BOTTLENECKS IN APPROVAL PROCESS</div>As of September 19, there have been 4,269 applicants to the program out of the 10,000 initial number of expected applicants.However, only nine have been recently recommended and approved by the President and awaiting certificates of amnesty.The official pointed out that the approval process among ex-officio members causes bottlenecks.She mentioned the additional requirements particularly from the heads of the Department of Justice and Department of National Defense.She said the application form for amnesty seekers already includes an admission of guilt, made under oath but the DOJ requires a separate sworn affidavit admitting guilt.“So, babalik uli ang papel, ibabalik mo uli iyan sa baba,” Armamento said.(So, you have to send the documents back)She added the DND requires an original copy of the Joint AFP-PNP Intelligence Committee Certification. &quot;So, sabi namin, hindi naman kami ang nag-i-issue ng JAPIC, kayo iyon eh so you provide the original. So, Ibabalik na naman namin iyon sa kanila. Maraming matrabaho,” the official noted.(We tell them that their office issues the JAPIC so they should provide the originals. So, we send that back to them. It&#x27;s a lot of work)Armamento is optimistic in finding a way to streamline the approval process, noting that the commission itself has resolved 285 amnesty applications.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) wants to extend the government’s amnesty program to communist rebels by two years.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) wants to extend the government’s amnesty program to communist rebels by two years.

NTF-ELCAC seeks 2-year extension of amnesty program

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NTF-ELCAC seeks 2-year extension of amnesty program

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 01, 2025 09:21 PM PHT

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NTF-ELCAC

amnesty program

amnesty

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