President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has directed continued full support for the completion of the Bangsamoro peace process, as stated by Presidential Adviser on Peace Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
“Unang una, ang guidance niya (Marcos) is one, is full commitment to the completion of the peace process,” Galvez told reporters at a news forum on Saturday.
(First of all, his guidance is one, full commitment to the completion of the peace process.)
“Pangalawa, sabi niya is talagang ibuhos natin ang suporta particularly sa Bangsamoro kaya ngayon nakikita namin ‘yung lahat ng LGUs (local government units) ngayon, they are allocating resources particularly sa Bangsamoro,” he added.
(Secondly, he said we should focus our support on the Bangsamoro so we are seeing that all LGUs are now allocating resources, particularly in the Bangsamoro.)
During the media forum, the OPAPRU chief presented the status of the peace process and accomplishments under the Marcos administration’s peace agenda.
For the Philippine government-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace process, Galvez said 26,145 combatants and 4,625 weapons were decommissioned.
Moreover, P3.5 billion worth of transitional cash assistance and other socio-economic packages were provided to 26,145 decommissioned MILF combatants.
The OPAPRU chief said P602 million worth of projects were also completed in 33 core barangays in six MILF camps.
For the government-Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) peace process, Galvez said 1,802 combatants have completed the verification and socioeconomic profiling process and have received P90 million worth of transitional cash assistance.
Moreover, he said that the government identified 79 projects worth P125 million in 25 priority MNLF communities.
“The President’s guidance is really to [complete] the peace process. Ang sabi nga niya… there should be a complete change on the lives of many Filipinos, particularly, we should create more jobs, we have to irrigate more lands and then we have to improve ‘yung human dignities of everybody, para lahat ng mga tao, particularly ‘yung affected areas, ay magkaroon upliftment ang kanilang pangkabuhayan,” Galvez said.
(The President’s guidance is really to [complete] the peace process. He said… there should be a complete change in the lives of many Filipinos, particularly, we should create more jobs, we have to irrigate more lands and then we have to improve the human dignity of everybody, so that everyone, particularly those in affected areas, would be able to uplift their livelihoods.)
The OPAPRU chief added that the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) has received a total of 578 amnesty applications through its existing nine Local Amnesty Boards (LABs), as of July 12, 2024, months after Marcos issued amnesty proclamations aimed at helping former insurgents reintegrate into mainstream society.
Galvez said the majority or 497 of the applicants were former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
Meanwhile, 33 former MILF members and 46 ex-members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) submitted applications for amnesty.
The remaining two amnesty applicants were former members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partidong Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB).
In November last year, Marcos issued Proclamation Numbers 403, 404, 405, and 406, series of 2023, which grant amnesty to members of RPMP-RPA-ABB, CPP-NPA-NDF and their front organizations, MILF, and members of the MNLF, respectively.
The implementing rules and regulations for the amnesty proclamations were issued in May this year after the presidential issuances were ratified by both chambers of Congress in March.
Under the proclamations, members of these rebel groups have two years to apply for amnesty.
Applications are filed with the LABs, which also handle the initial processing.
Currently, the NAC has established nine LABs and is in the process of setting up 10 more, according to Galvez.
Galvez said the NAC and LABs were focused on administrative tasks after the IRR for the amnesty proclamations were issued.
The OPAPRU chief said the agency is expecting the majority of members of rebel groups to apply for amnesty by the fourth quarter of 2024.
“Ang ine-expect natin is majority ng mag-apply will be from the CPP-NPA, more or less 10,000 to 15,000; sa MNLF, 1,500. All in all mga siguro po aabot ng 15,000 to 20,000,” Galvez said.
(We are expecting that the majority of applicants will be from the CPP-NPA, more or less 10,000 to 15,000. About 1,500 will be from the MNLF. All in all, we should have 15,000 to 20,000.)