9 September, 2025 (Butuan City, Agusan del Norte) – The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) issued a total of 143 Safe Conduct Passes to peace advocates and amnesty applicants from Local Amnesty Board (LAB) Davao and LAB Butuan during the Community Assembly for Peace and Development held on September 8, 2025, in Butuan City. This milestone coincides with National Peace Consciousness Month and reflects the government’s continuing commitment to fostering national reconciliation and sustainable peace.

Leading the ceremonial awarding were NAC Commissioners Jamar M. Kulayan and Atty. Ser-me Ayuyao, in partnership with the NAC’s Local Amnesty Board – Butuan. The assembly was organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), and facilitated by the newly launched United Caraganon for Peace and Development Foundation, Inc. (UCPDFI).

The event brought together 286 former members of the New People’s Army, along with key government stakeholders and representatives from the security sector, in what marked the first large-scale convergence of former rebels in the Caraga Region. Among the high-level officials present were OPAPRU Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr., and provincial governors Maria Angelica Rosedell M. Amante of Agusan del Norte, Johnny T. Pimentel of Surigao del Sur, and Santiago B. Cane Jr. of Agusan del Sur.

The NAC’s issuance of Safe Conduct Passes demonstrates its innovative and inclusive approach to amnesty implementation, engaging directly with grassroots peace advocates across five associations in the region. The Safe Conduct Pass is a critical document extended to individuals not currently under detention who have voluntarily expressed their intent to surrender and apply for amnesty, particularly those with ties to the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Holders of the NAC Safe Conduct Pass are granted key legal protections, including immunity from arrest, suspension of ongoing court proceedings, suspension of Department of Justice investigations, and the temporary lifting of rewards for their capture. These protections apply solely to covered offenses committed prior to November 22, 2023, and remain in effect until the President takes official action on the individual’s amnesty application.

The Community Assembly also served as a formal platform for the UCPDFI, a federation composed of more than 3,000 former rebels from the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur. Established in 2023 and formally registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission this year, the foundation has built active provincial chapters to support the reintegration of former combatants into civilian life.

The National Amnesty Commission remains firmly committed to broadening the reach of community-based peace and reintegration programs and will continue working closely with its partners to advance genuine reconciliation, unity, and nation-building.

Photos c/o: OPAPRU

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