Catbalogan City: The Local Amnesty Board (LAB) in Catbalogan City, Samar, has received a total of 150 amnesty applications from former rebels since the end of last year.

According to Philippines News Agency, Jazmine Odyssa Lutao of LAB Catbalogan disclosed in a phone interview that out of these applicants, 50 are from Samar and 100 are from Northern Samar.

The application process has seen significant involvement from the Philippine Army, which is assisting many of the applicants. Twenty-three applicants are receiving aid from the 87th Infantry Battalion (IB) situated in San Jose de Buan town, 21 from the 46th IB in Calbiga, and six from the 3rd IB in San Jorge, all within the Samar province. Meanwhile, the 43rd IB, based in Lope de Vega town, is supporting 62 applicants, and the 19th IB in Catubig town, Northern Samar, is facilitating the applications of 38 others.

LAB Catbalogan, in collaboration with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity - Amnesty Management Unit Eastern Visayas, has undertaken visits to the towns of Calbiga and San Jorge in Samar. These visits were aimed at receiving amnesty applications from former rebels who are under the supervision of the two military battalions.

During these visits, Lutao explained the government's amnesty program to the former rebels, who also took an oath of allegiance to the Philippine government before proceeding with the interview process. "We will now conduct deliberations on the amnesty applications of former rebels now that the Philippine National Police has already designated primary and alternative representatives to the local amnesty board," Lutao stated.

The amnesty program, under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s Proclamation 404, allows former and current members of communist insurgents to submit their amnesty applications until March 14, 2026. This initiative extends beyond the New People's Army rebels to include members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front as well.