DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao del Norte โ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has authorized the issuance of safe conduct passes for former rebels facing criminal charges who are seeking amnesty under the governmentโs ongoing peace efforts.
Marcos signed the memorandum on Friday, April 11, during a ceremony at the Officersโ Club of the 6th Infantry Division headquarters in Camp Siongco, allowing former members of insurgent groups to move freely as they apply for amnestyโeven if they have outstanding arrest warrants.
The move is part of the administrationโs broader push to reintegrate former combatants into mainstream society and foster long-term peace, particularly with groups that once waged armed struggle against the government.
Issuance of Safe Conduct Passes
Under the directive, the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) will facilitate the issuance of the safe conduct passes for qualified applicants from the New Peopleโs Army (NPA), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
โThe grant of these passes is an essential step in our journey toward healing and reconciliation,โ Marcos said during the event, which was witnessed by Bangsamoro regional officials, security sector representatives, and leaders of former revolutionary movements.
He emphasized that the initiative reflects the governmentโs commitment to a comprehensive peace strategy, enabling former combatants to โreturn to the fold of the lawโ without fear of arrest while their amnesty applications are processed.
A Welcome Development
Among those present at the symbolic signing were NAC Chairperson Leah Tanodra-Armamento, commissioners Jamar Kulayan and Ser-me Ayuyao, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., and Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, chief of the Western Mindanao Command.
From the Bangsamoro region, Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, BARMM Labor Minister and MNLF Chair Muslimin Sema, Region 12 State Prosecutor Mariam April Veloso Mastura, and Mayor Lester Sinsuat of Datu Odin Sinsuat were also in attendance.
Macacua, also head of the MILFโs armed wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, welcomed the development. He said it complements the ongoing normalization track of the Bangsamoro peace process.
The safe conduct pass initiative builds on the peace agreements already signed with the MNLF and MILF. It is seen as a confidence-building measure to encourage members of armed groups to avail themselves of government amnesty programs without fear of immediate detention.
