Safe Conduct Passes, a reaffirmation of the government’s sincere commitment to peace, unity, and inclusive nation-building

April 17, 2025

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) welcomes the recent signing of memorandum by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., authorizing the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) to issue Safe Conduct Passes (SCPs) to individuals applying for amnesty under Proclamation No. 404.

This presidential directive represents a critical component in our whole-of-nation approach to finally end the five decades of communist armed insurgency in the Philippines. The SCP is not just a legal safeguard; it is a reaffirmation of the government’s sincere commitment to peace, unity, and inclusive nation-building.

Proclamation No. 404 offers amnesty to individuals who have renounced the CPP-NPA-NDF and their violent armed struggle, and shown commitment to peace-building. These are our fellow Filipinos who once took up arms but have since embraced the democratic process and the rule of law. They have surrendered, laid down or surrendered their weapons, and are now walking alongside the government in rebuilding the very communities once torn apart by conflict.

Yet, for the past six years, many of them have continued to face legal threats due to offenses committed in carrying out their political tasks as former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF. These legal burdens obstruct their full reintegration and stigmatize their efforts despite their visible and valuable contributions to community development and peace advocacy. The issuance of the SCP is, therefore, a humane, necessary, and tactical instrument that allows them to move freely and participate fully in the healing and rebuilding of our nation.

This initiative is our government's clear acknowledgment of their invaluable role in attaining the relative peace and insurgency-free status now enjoyed across much of the country. The government extends this safe passage to recognize the efforts of those who have chosen to build rather than destroy and to unify rather than divide.

We must be cautious, however, that the amnesty and its processes must not be weaponized to undermine our peace efforts. It must never be exploited by unrepentant cadres of the CPP-NPA-NDFP seeking temporary reprieve only to return to subversion and armed violence. The SCP must not serve as a free pass to evade accountability for those who still seek to wreak havoc against the Filipino people. It must serve our strategy to permanently dismantle the communist terrorist machinery, weaken its recruitment, and protect our communities from ideological re-infiltration.

The NAC, along with the PNP and AFP, is tasked with ensuring that only legitimate and qualified applicants receive protection under this program. Verification must be rigorous. The government’s vigilance must be unwavering.

As we advance the implementation of Proclamation No. 404, the NTF-ELCAC remains committed to its mandate to end the local communist armed conflict, not through violence but through good governance, justice, and meaningful peace.

We call on all sectors to support this initiative and work hand in hand with former rebels in building a just, inclusive, and lasting peace for our nation.

Undersecretary Ernesto C Torres Jr

Executive Director

NTF ELCAC