IRR for gov’t amnesty to ex-rebels out before end-March

MANILA, Philippines — Former rebels may soon be given amnesty by the government as the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for its application process will be released before the end of this month.

National Amnesty Commission (NAC) official Jamar Kulayan told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview that the issuance of the Amnesty Program’s IRR will happen in 15 days – which means that former insurgents’ applications for government amnesty may already be processed shortly.

“Under the amnesty proclamation, we are only given 15 days and we intend to comply with that,” said the NAC commissioner.

Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday that the Senate has adopted the resolution that concurs with Presidential Proclamation No. 404, which seeks to grant amnesty for members of the New People’s Army (NPA), Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

He said that the Senate’s action now allows the use of the IRR to prompt acceptance of amnesty applications from ex-rebels.

The NAC was tasked to work on the IRR of the government’s Amnesty Program for former members of the NPA, RPMP-RPA-ABB, MILF and MNLF.

READ: Senate adopts reso on amnesty for former CPP-NPA-NDF members

“The Senate’s concurrence to these proclamations marks another significant milestone in our continuing quest towards achieving a just and lasting peace in our beloved nation,” the presidential adviser said in a statement.

“By giving amnesty, we are opening a window of opportunity for former rebels to reintegrate into mainstream society,” he added.

“This, in itself, is an act of compassion and reconciliation that will allow the healing of wounds caused by armed conflict and break down the barriers of fear, animosity, and divisiveness among our people,” Galvez continued.

The amnesty program of the government, however, excludes rebels already convicted or charged under Republic Act (RA) No. 9372, or the Human Security Act of 2007; and RA 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

READ: Galvez says gov’t to finish process of disarming MILF fighters before 2025

Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday said around 3,000 former rebels are expected to avail of the government’s Amnesty Program. Estrada is the chairperson of the Senate committee on national defense.

The MILF forged a peace agreement with the Philippine government which paved the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM)

The decommissioning of former MILF fighters is now ongoing, and the government targets to finish the process before BARRM’s first-ever elections in 2025. A source confirmed to INQUIRER.net that decommissioned MILF fighters still need to undergo the amnesty process.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), whose armed wing is the NPA, previously rejected the government’s amnesty offer. However, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines – the CPP’s political arm – and the government also agreed in November 2023 to come up with a framework to restart the peace talks.