Over 800 rebels apply for gov't amnesty — Galvez

The Philippine government has received 831 applications for amnesty from rebels so far, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity of the Philippines (PAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez said Wednesday.

During the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel, Galvez said that the rebels seeking amnesty were from the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army, Moro National Liberation Front,  Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the  Revolutionary Proletarian Army – Alex Boncayao Brigade.

“Ang maganda po noon, nung last ano po, nung last August 30, nagkaroon po talaga ng high-level submissions ng amnesty. ‘Yung mga top commanders po, mga front commanders, at saka po ‘yung mga central committee members ay nag submit po ng amnesty,” he said. 

(What is good is that last August 30, there were indeed high-level submissions of amnesty applications. The top commanders, front commanders, and central committee members all submitted their amnesty applications.)

Galvez, however, declined to give further details, saying that it is confidential.

“Meron pong proseso ‘yang sa amnesty. Hindi po outright nag apply. Meron po silang mga terms at mga conditions na ine-evaluate po,” he said.

(There is a process for amnesty. One can't outrightly apply. They have terms and conditions that are being evaluated.)

Meanwhile, when asked if the conflict in the Bangsamoro Region was about to end, he said that the insurgency was at the “outset of an extinction.”

“The conflict is now ending and then there is now a new beginning of peace and development in Mindanao,” he said. 

According to Galvez, around 40,000 members of the CPP-NPA have reconciled with the government.

Galvez previously said that the government is in exploratory discussions with the communist group for the resumption of peace talks

In November of last year, the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines agreed to resume the stalled peace negotiations after their representatives signed a joint statement for "a principled and peaceful resolution to the armed conflict."—LDF, GMA Integrated News