19 September 2024 (Iloilo City) β The Local Amnesty Board (LAB) Secretariat in Iloilo City conducted an information drive at Camp Monteclaro, the Headquarters of the 61st Infantry Battalion, 3ID of the Philippine Army, located in Brgy. Igtuba, Miagao, Iloilo. Lieutenant Colonel Arturo Balgos Jr. welcomed the attendees, stating that the event aimed to orient former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) on the governmentβs amnesty program. He further emphasized that the initiative is part of broader efforts to reintegrate former rebels into society.
The information drive facilitated the amnesty applications of 78 former rebels from Miagao and San Joaquin. This was made possible through the collaboration between the Federation for Reforms, Initiatives, Empowerment, Nation-Building and Development Services (FRIENDs), represented by Ms. Lorna MontaΓ±o, and LAB Iloilo. After the orientation on the amnesty program, LAB Iloilo addressed questions from the attendees, particularly concerning the timeline for the amnesty grant.
Joining Lieutenant Colonel Balgos was Second Lieutenant Christine Joy Marinduque, who also assisted both the applicants and LAB Iloilo at the Headquarters. Meanwhile, representatives from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), Administrative Officer III Cathy Pascua and Area Coordinator Hennie Dionela, supported LAB Iloilo in facilitating the amnesty applications.
Prosecutor Flosemer Gonzales, representing the Department of Justice under the Office of the Regional Prosecutor, with the assistance of Administrative Assistant III Juslenne Kaye Rondario, administered the oath to the applicants.
With this recent development, LAB Iloilo has now logged a total of 192 amnesty applications across the island of Panay.
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