At least 209 former rebels (FRs) applied for amnesty during a four-day campaign from July 8 to 11, records from the Local Amnesty Board-Bacolod City Secretariat show.

The Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) Commanding Officer Colonel Arnel Calaoagan said upon the approval of the amnesty applications, the FRs’ civil and political rights will be restored.

Likewise, he said that the pardoned FRs can avail of all other government programs or apply for Identification Cards and such other rights and entitlements granted to regular citizens.

Calaoagan pointed out that the National Amnesty program is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for peace, which has yielded positive responses from former rebels.

On the first day of the amnesty application filing, the 79IB brought 56 FRs who were former members of the New People’s Army-Negros Front.

But upon “further scrutiny of their records, some of them are from Central Negros, and some from Negros Oriental,” he said.

“I was informed that many more would like to apply for the amnesty program,” he added.

“We reiterate our call to our brothers who are still in the armed struggle that availing the amnesty program is the best option. The best option is to surrender,” he pointed out.

“[Upon their surrender], and their amnesty application is approved, this would give them the opportunity to live in peace together with their families,” he said. (PIA-6 Negros Occidental)