Around 8,000 to 10,000 communists rebels are now ready to lay down their arms if given amnesty, according to the Office of Presidential Adviser on Peace Process, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU).
In a virtual press conference last Wednesday. OPAPRU Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. said this was his estimate on the number of Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) members, who will avail of their proposed mass government amnesty.
He said this will be on top of the 26,414 CPP-NPA-NDF members, who already surrendered to the government.
Currently, he said the proposed amnesty is still being reviewed in the Senate after it was opposed by former Senator Panfilo M. Lacson.
The proposed amnesty will cover not only members of CPP-NPA-NDF, but other rebel groups.
Galvez said they hope the amnesty, once it is finally approved, will encourage more rebel returnees.
In a related development, Galvez said they are still waiting for guidance from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. if they will resume peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF.
Pending the position of the President on the matter, Galvez encouraged CPP-NPA-NDF to make use of local peace engagement.
Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte officially terminated the government peace talks with CPP-NPA-NDF in 2019 due to its alleged acts of violence as well as lack of sincerity in the said negotiations.
Image credits: AP