01 March, 2026 (Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental) β€” In a significant step towards lasting national peace and reconciliation, the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) will formally issue Certificates of Amnesty tomorrow to sixteen (16) qualified former combatants, now recognized as β€˜Friends Rescued’ (FRs). These amnesty grantees include fifteen (15) former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and one (1) commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) from the Northeastern Mindanao Front and currently serving as Member of Parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

This momentous ceremony is one of the many cornerstones of the government’s continuous effort to reach out to those who choose to lay down their arms and begin renewed lives as members of mainstream society.

Prior to the commencement of the awarding ceremony, the FRs will undergo an orientation program specifically designed to explain the legal effects of amnesty and educate them on the full benefits, rights, and protections granted under the program. This ensures that grantees fully understand the restoration of their civil and political rights, as well as the opportunities available to support their transition into civilian life.

As of the end of February, the NAC has received a total of 10,988 amnesty applications nationwideβ€”a testament to the growing trust of β€˜Friends Rescued’ in the government’s initiatives for national peacebuilding.

With the March 2026 deadlines fast approaching, the Commission encourages all eligible individuals to avail of the program. With only three (3) days remaining for the MILF, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and Rebolusyonaryong Partidong Manggagawa ng Pilipinas- Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), and twelve (12) days left for former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF, the NAC calls on all qualified individuals to coordinate with the nearest Local Amnesty Boards (LABs) for assistance.

β€œThis is a shared commitmentβ€”one that is not the Commission’s alone, but one we share with the applicants and our partner agencies as we work towards national healing, lawful reintegration, and a renewed future for those affected by armed conflict,” NAC Chairperson Atty. Leah C. Tanodra-Armamento reiterated.

The amnesty program represents the government’s steadfast commitment to achieving lasting peace, restorative justice, and sustainable development for conflict-affected communities nationwide.

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