TACLOBAN CITY – At least 18 amnesty applications filed with the Local Amnesty Board (LAB) in Catbalogan City are being finalized for resolution and endorsement to the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) Executive Committee and the Office of the President for approval.
Another 25 applications are currently under review, while seven are undergoing further validation.
A marathon case conference was recently conducted by members of LAB Catbalogan to thoroughly examine the documents and personal narratives submitted by the applicants.
Amnesty applicants were present during the validation proceedings.
The LAB Catbalogan members are scheduled to hold another validation conference today, Monday, April 28, and tomorrow, April 29.
The government’s amnesty program offers former rebels the opportunity to reintegrate into society, promoting healing, reconciliation, and ensuring due process and protection under the law.
Under Proclamation No. 404, amnesty extinguishes the criminal liability of former New People’s Army (NPA) members, except for those involved in crimes such as human trafficking, rape, child abuse, and sexual assault, who are ineligible to apply.
Since the creation of the local amnesty board, a total of 378 former rebels from the Samar provinces have submitted their amnesty applications between December 2024 and April 2025.
The number of applicants is expected to rise as outreach activities continue, led by LAB Catbalogan in partnership with various government agencies, including the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Department of Justice – National Prosecution Service, Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines 8th Infantry Division (AFP-8ID), and the Provincial Government of Samar.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the program deadline on March 23, 2026.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
