Manila: A ranking official from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Thursday described the government's amnesty program as a "quiet but decisive victory for peace". 'The numbers speak for themselves. This is not failure-this is a quiet but decisive victory for peace,' NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement.
According to Philippines News Agency, citing figures provided by the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), the amnesty program has already received 16,003 applications, far exceeding the initial projection of 10,000. Of these, 13,633 were actual combatants and supporters of the armed struggle under the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). Their applications were received before the March 13 deadline set for the group.
In the meantime, 1,240 applicants came from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), while the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) had 646. Another 484 applications were submitted by members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas / Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA-ABB) who now call themselves the Kapatiran. The deadline for MILF, MNLF, and RPM-P/RPA-ABB applicants was set earlier on March 4.
Torres said that this proves that the amnesty program is a resounding success and has prompted authorities to push for its continuation for another two years, or until 2028, as more applicants are expected in the coming months. He added that this "overwhelming response" to the program underscores a decisive shift on the ground as former CPP-NPA-CDF members are now choosing peace over armed struggle.
For her part, NAC chairperson, lawyer Leah Tanodra-Armamento affirmed that the surge in applications reflects growing trust in the process, as former rebels realize they can pursue their advocacies without violence and without endangering their families. 'We received a total of 16,003 applications-far exceeding expectations. This shows that more and more are choosing peace and lawful engagement over armed struggle,' Armamento said.
Amid the surge in applications, Armamento disclosed that an extension of the amnesty period-originally set to lapse under Executive Order No. 47-is now in motion, with a recommendation from the Executive Committee, NTF-ELCAC and awaiting the President's approval and signature. 'We are inviting everyone-even though the application period was supposed to have ended, we now have a recommendation for extension which is awaiting the President's signature,' she added.
The extension will cover another two years, up to 2028, through another proclamation aligned with the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s term, ensuring continuity without the need for a yearly congressional concurrence. 'In the meantime, we continue to accept applications and mark them as provisionally accepted,' Armamento added.
The NAC chief also highlighted the government's 'Aftercare for Grantees of Amnesty' program, which provides a comprehensive pathway for reintegration, including the dismissal of pending cases and the clearing of records from the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police. 'This is not just amnesty-it is a real second chance,' she said.
Armamento noted that the program has already uncovered cases where applicants had multiple pending charges they were unaware of-one even having as many as 80-which are now being addressed through government support mechanisms.
Meanwhile, Torres said the CPP's attempts to discredit the program reveal its growing desperation as it struggles to contain the steady exodus of its members. 'This is what the CPP fears-the truth that their own members are leaving, choosing dignity, stability, and a brighter future with their families,' Torres said. 'Unable to stop the departures, they resort to delegitimizing those who choose peace and dismissing their testimonies. But these are sworn statements, validated through due process, and they expose the reality of life inside the armed movement," he added.
Torres emphasized that the success of the amnesty program goes hand in hand with the government's broader peace and development initiatives, particularly the Barangay Development Program, which delivers infrastructure and basic services to conflict-affected communities.
