Bacolod City – Stressing that the amnesty given to former rebels and local insurgents is “very timely”, Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said it will serve as a major deciding factor in convincing more members of the New People’s Army to abandon the armed struggle, as they are now on the verge of collapse.
“This is high time for you to reunite with your family and loved ones. Come down and avail of the amnesty program. Make that decision now, and you will reap a peaceful and meaningful future ahead of you,” Sison said, in a statement issued by 3ID.
The amnesty granted to members of armed groups is for those who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and special penal laws, specifically those committed crimes in pursuit of their political beliefs, whether punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special penal laws, which include the CPP-NPA-NDF; Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade; the Moro Islamic Liberation Front; and the Moro National Liberation Front.
Sison said he believes that the amnesty proclamations will further boost the government’s comprehensive peace agenda and its campaign to end local communist armed conflict in Western and Central Visayas.
Twenty-nine NPA combatants, including militiamen, recently surrendered to the 94th Infantry Battalion in central Negros, formalized in separate ceremonies held in cities of Himamaylan and Kabankalan, which included the turn over of several firearms.
(Gilbert Bayoran via TVDS, Photo by TVDS)
