ELCAC TF urges relatives to tell
Ex NPAs to apply for amnesty

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 5 (PIA)— Members of the Legal Cluster of the Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) urge Boholanos who may have contacts with former rebels who have lain low, to convince them to surrender and apply for presidential amnesty, now that a Local Amnesty Board (LAB) is setting up shop here.

Despite being declared insurgency free since 2010, the underground movement which has become insignificant to launch an offensive against government forces, has kept teams of legal front workers in white areas, and some sleeper members whom they aspire to rouse once the communist armed group has recovered communities that can harbor an armed group.

However, the death of local guerilla leader Domingo Compoc last year totally dismantled the plan leading to the total defeat of the local terrorists.

But with possibly some formerly active warriors now thinking they are already safe from the long arms of the law, ELCAC Bohol coordinator Romeo Teruel said these people have one option to be cleared of their crimes done in pursuit of their political beliefs: get an amnesty.

An amnesty however can only be availed by a former rebel or member of a front organization with a pending case in court or one with a resolution or given a final judgment.

More than that, an amnesty can be applied only on a specified period of time, and for this offer of the presidential pardon, the application has to be filed between March 4, 2024 to March 13, 2026, and for crimes committed before November 22, 2023.

According to the Presidential Proclamation 404, which grants amnesty to members of the Communist Party of the Philippines New People’s Army National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and their front organizations, the amnesty cover offenses like rebellion or insurrection, conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion, disloyalty of public officials, inciting to rebellion, conspiracy to commit sedition; and inciting to sedition.

The amnesty also covers offenses like illegal assembly; illegal association; direct assault; indirect assault; resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or its agents; tumults and other disturbances of public order; unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances; alarms and scandals; illegal possession of firearms, ammunition or explosives, provided that these crimes or offense were committed in furtherance of, incident to, or in connection with the crimes of rebellion or insurrection.

Also covered are those charged, detained or convicted of common crimes but who can establish by substantial evidence that they have actually committed said crimes in pursuit of political beliefs.

At least, in Bohol, for cases that have been filed in courts, these former active rebels have been at large although some of them may have already died, or are simply not using their true names.

Eligible for amnesty are Justine Ybanez (murder and attempted murder), Pancho Sanchez (murder, frustrated murder), Teodoro Serecon alias John (murder, frustrated murder), Marilou Villanueva (murder), Glenmar Bacusmo (murder, frustrated murder), Jerwin Ambaic alias Along (murder, frustrated murder), Loloy Paluga (frustrated murder, double frustrated murder), Marvin Ambaic (murder, frustrated murder).

Onyot Clavite (frustrated murder, double frustrated murder), Robert Lawag Jabines (murder, frustrated murder), Nicolas Ratilla (murder, attempted murder, attempted homicide), Romy Albao (murder), Abel Abella (murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder), Adela Belen (frustrated murder, double frustrated murder), Albert Layag Peña, (murder, frustrated murder).

Beling Belen (frustrated murder, double frustrated murder), Bernard Alvarez (murder, frustrated murder), Carlo Cinco alias Butchoy (attempted homicide), Faith Basirgo (murder, frustrated murder), Felimon Mendrez (murder, frustrated murder), Felomino Alfante Alias Pitoy (murder, frustrated murder).

If you happen to know any of these people, tell them that the government is willing to help them clear their names, quipped Bohol Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Carmelita Tecson, a TF ELCAC member.

An amnesty can totally wipe out one’s offenses, allowing an individual grantee to get a National Bureau of Investigation clearance, Department of Justice clearance and Philippine National Police clearance as soon as he can prove his amnesty, National Amnesty Commissioner Atty Leah Armamento said. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)

ELCAC Bohol coordinator Romeo Teruel asking relatives of former rebels to convince their family members who left the underground movement to avail of the government’s amnesty program now that there is a Local Amnesty Board (LAB) in Bohol. (PIA Bohol)