AMNESTY PROGRAM A RESOUNDING SUCCESS; GOV’T EYES EXTENSION UNTIL 2028 AS MORE REBELS CHOOSE PEACE

March 19, 2026

The government’s Amnesty Program has emerged as a resounding success, with more than 16,000 former rebels stepping forward to reclaim peaceful lives—prompting authorities to push for its continuation for another two years, or until 2028, as more applicants are expected in the coming months.

National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Executive Director Usec. Ernesto C. Torres Jr. said the overwhelming response to the program underscores a decisive shift on the ground, where former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) are choosing peace over armed struggle.

“The numbers speak for themselves. This is not failure—this is a quiet but decisive victory for peace,” Torres said, as he dismissed claims by the CPP that the amnesty initiative is an “epic fail.”

He stressed that the Amnesty Program is voluntary and grounded in law, with no coercion involved.

“No one is forced to apply. They come forward on their own, acknowledge their past, and submit to a legitimate legal process. If this were truly a failure, there would be no applicants. Yet thousands have stepped forward nationwide,” he said.

Torres noted that the government has already received 16,003 applications, far exceeding the initial projection of 10,000. Of these, 13,633 were actual combatants and supporters of the armed struggle under the CPP-NPA-NDF.

For her part, National Amnesty Commission chairperson Atty. Leah Tanodra-Armamento affirmed that the surge in applications reflects growing trust in the process, as former rebels realize they can pursue their advocacies without violence and without endangering their families.

“We received a total of 16,003 applications—far exceeding expectations. This shows that more and more are choosing peace and lawful engagement over armed struggle,” Armamento said during a virtual press conference organized by the Task Force.

Amid the surge in applications, Armamento disclosed that an extension of the amnesty period—originally set to lapse under Executive Order No. 47—is now in motion, with a recommendation from the Executive Committee, NTF-ELCAC and awaiting the President’s approval and signature.

“We are inviting everyone—even though the application period was supposed to have ended, we now have a recommendation for extension which is awaiting the President’s signature,” she said.

The extension will cover another two years, up to 2028, through another proclamation aligned with the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term, ensuring continuity without the need for a yearly congressional concurrence.

“In the meantime, we continue to accept applications and mark them as provisionally accepted,” Armamento added.

The NAC chief also highlighted the government’s “Aftercare for Grantees of Amnesty” program, which provides a comprehensive pathway for reintegration, including the dismissal of pending cases and the clearing of records from the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police.

“This is not just amnesty—it is a real second chance,” she said. “We are removing the fear, restoring dignity, and allowing them to live normal lives in their communities.”

Armamento noted that the program has already uncovered cases where applicants had multiple pending charges they were unaware of—one even having as many as 80—which are now being addressed through government support mechanisms.

Meanwhile, Torres said the CPP’s attempts to discredit the program reveal its growing desperation as it struggles to contain the steady exodus of its members.

“This is what the CPP fears—the truth that their own members are leaving, choosing dignity, stability, and a brighter future with their families,” Torres said.

“Unable to stop the departures, they resort to delegitimizing those who choose peace and dismissing their testimonies. But these are sworn statements, validated through due process, and they expose the reality of life inside the armed movement,” he pointed out.

The NTF-ELCAC official emphasized that the success of the Amnesty Program goes hand in hand with the government’s broader peace and development initiatives, particularly the Barangay Development Program (BDP), which delivers infrastructure and basic services to conflict-affected communities.

“While the CPP offers only conflict, the government offers construction—not just of roads and schools, but of lives and communities,” he further stressed.

“For the CPP, amnesty may be just a piece of paper. But for thousands of Filipinos, it is a passport back to society, stability, and hope,” Torres continued.

He underscored that what the CPP dismisses as failure is, in reality, a growing national movement toward peace.

“The real ‘epic fail’ is the CPP’s outdated and violent ideology—one that continues to sacrifice Filipino lives for a futile armed struggle,” Torres said. “The Filipino people have chosen peace. And the government will continue to open that door—wider, longer, and until the last Filipino comes home.”