Rebellion charges against five former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) were formally dismissed by a Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granted them amnesty, the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) said Tuesday.
The NAC, in a statement, said the decision was issued by the RTC on October 16, which stemmed from the President’s grant of amnesty on September 24, 2025, to 19 former CPP-NPA-NDF members and one Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) member.
The certificates of amnesty were awarded to them on March 2 this year and resulted in the NAC’s aftercare initiative, the Balik Karapatan: Rights Restoration Program.
“The dismissal of the rebellion cases against the amnesty grantees is a meaningful step toward realizing the promise of amnesty. Not only does it provide legal relief to the grantees, but it also helps them reclaim their rights and move forward with their lives,” the NAC said.
“This achievement reflects the dedication of our personnel, the cooperation of our partner agencies, and the continuing commitment of the NAC to making the benefits of amnesty felt by its grantees. We remain steadfast in working together to ensure that every grant of amnesty becomes a concrete step toward lasting peace, reconciliation, and reintegration,” the agency also said.
More than 16,000 former CPP-NPA-NDF, MILF, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa–Pilipinas/ Revolutionary Proletarian Army–Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA/ABB) applied for the amnesty grant by the President.
The NAC said the other amnesty applicants are still being vetted.
Marcos on November 22, 2023, issued Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405, and 406 granting amnesty to members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa–Pilipinas/ Revolutionary Proletarian Army–Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA/ABB), CPP-NPA-NDF, MILF, and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), respectively.
The deadline for application for the RPM/RPA/ABB, MILF, and MNLF was on March 4 this year, and March 13 for CPP-NPA-NDF.
The NAC said the grant of amnesty provides the former rebels the chance to reintegrate into mainstream society and begin anew, which reflects the national government’s firm commitment to lasting peace and reconciliation.