By Rex Espiritu
Communist insurgents have until March 14, 2026, to apply for amnesty under President Marcos’ Proclamation 404, National Amnesty Commission (NAC) Commissioner Jamar Kulayan said.
In an interview, Kulayan emphasized that the deadline aligns with the date when both the Senate and the House of Representatives approved Proclamation 404.
“Take advantage of the Amnesty Program. We encourage you to apply now because you only have two years from the date of concurrence to file your applications. After that, applications will no longer be accepted. Don’t wait until the last minute,” Kulayan urged the rebels.
The NAC, established via Executive Order No. 125 in 2021 and amended by EO 47 in 2023, manages an amnesty program for members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). Initially, under President Rodrigo Duterte, the program had a one-year application period, but Marcos extended it to two years and broadened it to include CPP and NDF members as well.
So far, the NAC has received 688 applications through nine Local Amnesty Boards (LABs) across various regions. These LABs facilitate the surrender and reintegration of insurgents. Applications are reviewed by the NAC then forwarded to the Office of the President for final approval.
The process has been slow due to thorough vetting, but the NAC plans to add more LABs to speed up the application process. Kulayan expressed gratitude to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for their support as he anticipates an increase in applications in the near future.
