300 ex-rebels in Negros, Panay seek amnesty

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Up to 300 former New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas on Negros and Panay islands have applied for amnesty offered by the government, the Philippine Army said yesterday.

Of the applicants, 210 are in Negros and the rest are in Panay, according Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, spokesperson for the Army in Western Visayas.

Javines said the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB) based in Negros assisted the applicants in filing their documents at the Local Amnesty Board in Bacolod from July 8 to 12.

In Panay, the 301st IB assisted 90 former rebels in filing their applications on July 11 at Camp General Adriano Hernandez in Dingle, Iloilo.

In November last year, President  Marcos signed Executive Order 47, creating the National Amnesty Commission to cover the processing of applications for amnesty provided under Proclamations 403, 404 and 406.

The proclamations seek to grant amnesty to former rebels and insurgents who have committed crimes in furtherance of their political beliefs.

Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, chief of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said the willingness of the applicants to seek amnesty is an affirmation of their readiness to forgive, seek forgiveness, understand and embrace second chances to promote peace and security.