Insurgency: A Quiet Victory

The deadline for the amnesty program has come and gone. Over 11,000 former communist rebels have applied. At least that is the number as of 5 p.m. on March 13th. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271101

The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) has received over 11,000 amnesty applications coming from former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

These figures are as of 5 p.m. of March 13, the deadline for application for former NPAs, the agency said in a statement Sunday night.

The NAC said these 11,000 applications from the CPP-NPA-NDF accounted for more than 80 percent total applications for all groups covered by the amnesty program.

Groups covered by the government amnesty program include the NPAs, Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas–Revolutionary Proletarian Army–Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Deadline for application for the RPMP-RPA-ABB, MILF and MNLF was on March 4.

"As the application period closes, the NAC emphasized that the amnesty program remains an important component of the national government’s peacebuilding agenda, providing former rebels with an opportunity to reintegrate into mainstream society," it said.

The NAC received a total of 13,630 applications from all these groups, surpassing the initial target of 10,000.

The final tally of the overall applications received by the NAC will be released once all submissions have been processed.

The total for all groups who applied is 13,630. Remember, that is the number of applicants on the day of the deadline, March 13th. 

The very next day, March 14th, the number of applicants increased to 16,003.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271294

Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the high turnout of applicants for the government's amnesty program showcases the determination of former rebels and combatants to start a new life and trust in the government.

"(This high turnout) is a testament to their determination to start a new chapter in their lives, as well as shows their full trust and confidence in the national government,” he said in a statement Tuesday night.

A total of 16,003 former rebels and combatants have availed themselves of the national government’s amnesty program as of March 14, marking another major milestone under the comprehensive Philippine peace process.

Data from the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) show that the majority of the applicants –

13,633 – are former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and their front organizations.

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 the MILF, MNLF, and RPM-P/RPA-ABB applicants was set earlier on March 4.

“This milestone reflects the desire of these former combatants to turn away from decades of armed struggle, embrace peace, and rebuild their lives,” Galvez said.

He added that the Amnesty Program is a cornerstone of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. 's administration's peace agenda, which aims to complement all signed peace agreements and ongoing Normalization and Transformation Programs, particularly in Mindanao.

“The sheer number of applications demonstrates trust in the government, trust in the peace process, and trust that former rebels and combatants have a chance to build communities,” Galvez said.

13,633 of those applicants were former CPP-NPA members. Their applications were received BEFORE the March 13th deadline. So, why was it reported on March 13th that only 11,000 CPP-NPA members had applied if their applications were received before that date? Processing lag?

The NTF-ELCAC says this is a quiet" but decisive victory" for the government. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271371

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.

Citing figures provided by the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), he said 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. 

Ok, so 13,633 were supporters and actual combatants. How many were actual former combatants? That breakdown is important and as has been shown on this blog previously, the government does not make the distinction when reporting surrenders and neutralizations. 

The NTF-ELCAC also says the CPP's badmouthing of the amnesty program is a diversionary tactic to cover up its slow demise. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271315

A ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Wednesday said it is now standard practice for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to badmouth government programs designed for its former members to hide their declining influence.

NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., in a statement, made this comment after the CPP has once again attempted to discredit the government’s amnesty program by labeling it an “epic fail.”

And in making this claim, Torres said the CPP highlighted its growing desperation as its members and supporters continue to choose peace over violence.

"The Amnesty Program is a voluntary, lawful process. No one is forced to apply—individuals come forward on their own, acknowledge past involvement, and submit to a verified legal process. If this program were truly a failure, there would be no applicants. Yet thousands have stepped forward nationwide, embracing peace and reintegration," he added.

Data coming from the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) showed that a total of 13,633 former members and supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) have availed of the Amnesty Program within the March 13 deadline.

Unable to deny these facts, Torres said the CPP resorted to familiar tactics like delegitimizing those who choose peace and dismissing their testimonies.

"Former rebels have provided sworn statements detailing their roles within the CPP-NPA—accounts that withstand scrutiny and contradict the CPP’s narrative," he added.

Torres also said the amnesty process also reveals that more and more former CPP-NPA are choosing peace, dignity and a future with their families.

"At its core, the CPP’s criticism is a defensive reaction to its own declining influence. The Amnesty Program provides what the armed movement fears most—a lawful and dignified exit for those who no longer believe in violence," Torres said.

"What the CPP dismisses as failure is in fact a quiet victory: the steady return of Filipinos to their communities, and the government’s unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and inclusive development," he added.

Torres said the real “epic fail” is not the desire for peace but the CPP’s outdated and violent ideology.

The NTF-ELCAC official also took this opportunity to dismiss the CPP's claims that development programs like the Barangay Development Program (BDP) are tools of corruption.

"In reality, the BDP delivers tangible progress—roads, schools, water systems, electricity, and livelihoods—to long-neglected communities. These are not sources of corruption but instruments of genuine change, implemented through transparent government processes," he added.

Here is the CPP's statement in full.

https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/marcos-sham-amnesty-program-is-an-epic-fail-cpp/

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today said the two-year amnesty application of the Marcos government and its so-called National Amnesty Commission (NAC) is an epic failure, and nothing more but a hollow public spectacle. The NAC concluded its amnesty application period yesterday, March 13, claiming to have received thousands of applications from “former rebels and supporters” of the revolutionary movement.

“Marcos’ amnesty program failed to deceive the Party, the masses and their revolutionary forces,” said Marco L. Valbuena, the Party’s Chief Information Officer. He lambasted the NAC’s figures asserting that most of the supposed applicants were ordinary peasants and poor civilians deceived and coerced into surrendering and applying for amnesty.

Valbuena added that only a handful of “counterrevolutionary traitors,” who now serve as collaborators of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the National Task Force (NTF)-Elcac, took part in the program. “These renegade traitors are utterly despicable for accepting ‘amnesty’ from the fascists at the expense of betraying the national and democratic aspirations of the Filipino people and the memory of their martyrs,” he added.

Since Marcos’ issuance of Proclamation No. 404 in November 2023, the CPP has consistently rejected what it calls a fake and self-serving amnesty scheme. “The revolutionary movement remains determined to advance the armed struggle to end imperialist domination, tyranny, corruption, and oppression under the Marcos regime,” Valbuena affirmed.

He further noted that the government’s amnesty campaign, combined with its militarist approach, has failed to weaken the revolution’s resolve. “Genuine and lasting peace can only be achieved by addressing the roots of the armed conflict—widespread social injustice and the lack of genuine national sovereignty,” Valbuena stressed.

Valbuena also criticized the administration for turning the amnesty program into another source of corruption. The regime spent millions in public funds to establish so-called local amnesty boards. “In relation with this amnesty charade, hundreds of millions, if not a few billion pesos were allotted for unaudited “barangay development programs”, lining the pockets of bureaucrats and military officers,” he said.

“Marcos is mistaken in the belief that state terrorism can snuff out the people’s aspirations and kill their resistance,” Valbuena said. “Every day that military and police forces employ armed might, the more that people are roused to defend their rights and livelihood and driven to take up arms in resistance.”

He concluded that the amnesty program “ended up as nothing more than a useless piece of paper.”

Make of that what you will but when one report says 11,000 applied and other says 13,663 applied, and the government refuses to breakdown how many applicants were actual fighters and how many were mere supporters, Valbuena has a point. He also say the government "has failed to weaken the revolution’s resolve." That's why the fighting continues. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271205

The Philippine Army has intensified its hunt against fleeing rebels in Northern Samar after Monday’s brief armed encounter with insurgents in the mountain of Gamay, Northern Samar.

The Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) has directed its units to continue pursuit operations to stop the armed group from engaging in further extortion and other illegal activities that could threaten communities in the province.

“The 8ID reaffirmed its commitment to sustain focused military operations while working closely with local government units, stakeholders, and communities to maintain peace and security in Eastern Visayas,” the Army said in a statement Tuesday.

The 8ID issued a statement after a firefight with 10 members of the communist New People’s Army in Barangay Lonoy, Gamay town on Monday. The encounter reportedly lasted about 5 minutes before the armed group retreated.

According to the military, the operation was launched after local farmers reported alleged extortion by suspected rebel members in nearby communities. Acting on this information, troops conducted verification and security operations to safeguard residents and address the reported threats.

After the encounter, government troops recovered a .45 caliber pistol, a short magazine for an M16 rifle, and several personal belongings believed to have been abandoned by the fleeing rebels.

The 8ID also reiterated their call for remaining NPA members to surrender and take advantage of the government’s reintegration and livelihood programs instead of continuing armed struggle.

Those rebels may be fleeing but they are definitely not surrendering. 

Meanwhile, in the BARMM, the MILF has temporarily suspended all peace engagements with the government. 

 https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/17/milf-temporarily-suspends-peace-engagements-with-govt

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has temporarily suspended all engagements related to the implementation of the peace agreement following the resignation of the government peace panel chief. 

In a statement, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim urged the government to designate a duly mandated peace panel chairman, adding that the implementation of the peace agreement is supposed to be a “dance that was meant for two.” 

Ebrahim said the reported resignation of government peace panel chief Cesar Yano left a gaping hole in the implementation of the peace agreement at this very crucial stage in the transition period. 

“The importance of the MILF peace implementing panel's government counterpart cannot be countenanced. Hence, in the exercise of prudence, the MILF deems it appropriate to declare a temporary pause in several aspects of engagement under the peace implementation mechanisms until a full- fledged chairman of the GPH peace implementing panel is appointed,” he said.

With the resignation of Yano, the MILF peace implementing panel cannot negotiate and engage with a headless counterpart, the MILF chairman added. 

Peace implementation mechanisms may not be able to proceed as they were designed to function through officially mandated representatives of both parties, said Ebrahim.

The MILF peace panel has been chaired by Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal since 2003. 

“In the absence of a formally designated chair of the GPH peace implementing panel, the MILF finds itself unable to proceed with substantive engagements that require formal commitments and authoritative decisions,” Ebrahim said.

The MILF assured that the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and Ad Hoc Joint Action Group shall continue to function and address any infraction of tranquility on the ground.

Ebrahim added that this move is for the protection of the fragile peace and security already achieved. 

“On the side of the MILF peace mechanisms led by the MILF peace implementing panel, it shall continue to engage local, national, and international friends of the peace process on matters not requiring jointness, mutuality, and bilateralism with those mechanisms from the GPH,” he said. 

The MILF is hoping that the government will designate a new peace panel chief to enable the shared work of completing the implementation of the CAB to proceed with clarity, certainty, and renewed momentum. 

“Such appointment will help restore the normal functioning of the established mechanisms and enable the parties to address pending matters in a timely and constructive manner,” Ebrahim said.

The peace deal encountered another stumbling block as the government and the MILF commemorate the 12th year of signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on March 17. 

Last year, the MILF unilaterally suspended the decommissioning of the remaining 14,000 combatants until the government substantially complies with the provisions of the Annex on Normalization in the peace agreement the two parties signed in 2014. 

The MILF barred its officials and commanders from attending activities related to decommissioning. 

The first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections was moved multiple times, prompting some peace monitors to issue a warning that the peace deal is on the brink of collapse due to unresolved issues. 

How can the MILF work with the government when their mediator is gone? The OPAPRU says they should press ahead anyway but does not address their concerns. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271374

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) called on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to continue engaging with the government on the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

"We encourage our MILF brothers and sisters to continue walking this path with us, as the peace process is a living testament of our partnership. We believe that the spirit of the CAB, rooted in the principles of jointness, bilateralism, and mutuality, is best honored by keeping the wheels of implementation turning," OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a statement late Wednesday.

Likewise, Galvez said the OPAPRU recognizes the concerns raised by the MILF leadership but noted that they must never lose sight of the people whose lives depend on the implementation of the peace process.

"We must remember that the CAB is more than just a peace accord. It is a sacred peace covenant. Every 'temporary pause' translates into a day of uncertainty for the former combatants, their families, and the communities currently undergoing the transformation process," he added.

He said these are the individuals who have sacrificed the most and rightfully deserve immediate and continuous assistance from the national and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) governments and other peace stakeholders, especially in these difficult and trying times.

"The gains we have achieved, particularly under the Normalization Track, are far too precious to be stalled. It is our firm belief that the momentum of our peacebuilding efforts must be sustained, and in fact, must be accelerated in light of the upcoming first BARMM parliamentary elections," he said.

Galvez said they remain confident that their shared aspirations for a just and durable peace will overcome these temporary challenges.

"For the sake of the Bangsamoro people and the future of our nation, let us move forward together with renewed urgency, determination, and heart," he added.

Galvez also acknowledged the recent statement from the MILF Central Committee, which cited the “positive” role of the peace agency in facilitating the government’s deliverables under the CAB.

"Under the steadfast leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the OPAPRU remains unwavering in its commitment to pushing forward and building on the dividends of peace in the Bangsamoro," he said.

Galvez also said that OPAPRU’s mandate, which is to “manage, direct, integrate, and supervise the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Process,” serves as a guide and has kept us on track amid the challenges that have come our way in fostering peace and development across the region.

The OPAPRU, he said, is in charge of implementing the government’s overall peace policy agenda, while the Government Peace Implementing Panel (GPIP) is tasked to serve as the bridge between the government and the MILF, particularly to “conduct direct negotiations, dialogues and discussions” with the MILF under Executive Order 158 series of 2021.

Galvez said the OPAPRU continues to support the GPIP as it undertakes the arduous tasks of implementing the CAB.

He added that the selection of the GPIP leadership is an internal government process, but it should not affect the work of the peace mechanisms or the efforts of all stakeholders working for peace in the Bangsamoro.

If the OPAPRU is in charge of implementing the peace program then the MILF should have no issue at all. So, what's the real deal? Don't forget the MILF has already frozen the decommission program. Is the dissolution of the peace process and the BARMM just around the riverbend?