National Amnesty Commission chairperson Atty. Leah Armamento (center) and NTF ELCAC Executive Director Usec. Ernesto Torres Jr. (extreme right) during the launch of the Local Amnesty Board (LAB) in Bohol. (PIA Bohol)
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)— Fifteen years after Bohol was declared by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) insurgency-free, the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) has recently created in Bohol a Local Amnesty Board (LAB).
The LAB acts as the liaison between the community and NAC in processing amnesty applications for the former rebels who have decided to return to the folds of the law.
Lawyer Leah Tanodra-Armamento, NAC chairperson, and National Task Force (NTF) on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) Executive Director Usec. Ernesto Torres Jr. led the launching of the LAB during the 15th anniversary celebration of the Provincial Day of Peace.
Torres said the LAB launching is a success story in the country’s counter-insurgency campaign.
“Two decades ago, Bohol had a lot of challenges, but so much has happened that people are now happy and are helping sustain this. This is a success story of Philippine counter-insurgency, a study which I presented as my defense course thesis abroad, terrorism to tourism,” he said.
Armamento said the LAB will serve as the the local inter-agency and multi-sectoral body tasked to facilitate and pre-screen the applications of those intending to be cleared of their committed political crimes they have earlier been convicted of.
NAC was created and tasked to receive and process amnesty applications while determining whether the applicant rebel returnee is entitled to the presidential amnesty.
An amnesty is an official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses, or crimes committed in pursuit of their political beliefs.
“To further facilitate the ease of applications of the amnesty, the NAC sets up LABs, like the one in Bohol,” Armamento said.
He added that the LAB will also help the former rebels obtain the necessary documents they need to get a fresh start in reforming their lives.
“This Local Amnesty Board will help facilitate cleaning the slate of former rebels from the stain of crimes, so that after gaining amnesty, one could get a police, National Bureau of Investigation or court clearance and get a good job,” Armamento added.
Without the amnesty, rebel returnees who are willing to go back to the mainstream are at risk of being apprehended or issued arrest warrants for crimes committed during their time as armed men in the underground.
Section 5 of the Amnesty Implementing Rules states that applications for the grant of amnesty shall be filed within two years: from March 4, 2024 to March 4, 2026.
Hundreds of former rebels in Bohol, who gathered for the Provincial Day of Peace, witnessed the LAB launching here, which is the 11th LAB set up by NAC in the country.
Other LABs installed nationwide are in National Capital Region, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Cagayan de Oro City, Cotabato City, Davao City, Pagadian City, Isabela City, Basilan, and Jolo, Sulu. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)
