• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A total of 219 former rebels in Negros Island have applied for amnesty before the Local Amnesty Board (LAB) Bacolod, the highest among the LABs all over the country, as of this time.
“This significant achievement highlights the communities’ commitment to peace, reconciliation, and the reintegration of former combatants into mainstream society,” Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, said in a statement.
Of those who applied before the LAB Bacolod, a total of 176 were assisted by the 303rd Infantry Brigade while 34 others, by the 302nd Infantry Brigade, from July 8 to 12.
Two weeks ago, nine more former rebels, assisted by the 79th Infantry Battalion in northern Negros, also applied for amnesty.
Edralin said that the increase in the number of amnesty applications not only demonstrates the effectiveness of the local outreach programs, but also shows the collective effort in promoting dialogues and understanding among all stakeholders involved in the peace process.
He added that the LAB, in collaboration with various government agencies, non-government organizations, and local community leaders, has been actively working to ensure that former rebels understand the benefits of the amnesty program.
“This program aims to facilitate their smooth transition back into civilian life, providing them with access to education, livelihood opportunities, social services, and restoration of their civil rights, including their right to suffrage,” Edralin said.
The amnesty program is not just a legal process, it is also a pathway for former rebels to reintegrate into mainstream society and build a better future for themselves, their families and their communities, he added.
He also said that the 303rd Infantry Brigade, in collaboration with the LAB, invites public and private stakeholders to join hands in providing the amnesty applicants comprehensive support services. | GB
