MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for the immediate implementation of the amnesty program to the remaining members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

“The President has directed the immediate implementation of the amnesty program to the remaining members of the CPP-NPA-NDF since Congress has already concurred with the proclamation,” National Security Adviser (NSA) Secretary Eduardo Año told reporters in a press briefing on Thursday.

Año said President Marcos, during the 5th NTF ELCAC Executive Committee (Execom) Meeting in Malacañang Thursday, has already greenlighted the finalization of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the proclamation before they can start processing the grant of amnesty to the remaining members of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

President Marcos issued Executive Order No. 47 in November last year, amending Executive Order No. 125, series of 2021, or the Creation of the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) to cover the processing of the applications for amnesty under Proclamations 403, 404, 405 and 406.

Under Proclamation No. 404, President Marcos granted amnesty to the former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and Special Penal laws in furtherance of their political beliefs, among other offenses.

Año said there is an initial 1,500 members who have signified their intention to apply for the amnesty.

Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the NAC, which organized around 17 local amnesty boards from different regions, has already processed the application of those who applied for the amnesty to determine their illegibility for the program.

“Sa ngayon, ang nakikita namin, we are expecting, more or less, 1,500 members of the CPP-NPA and I believe it will increase it case magkaroon na tayo ng tinatawag na proseso,” Galvez said when asked if there are already members of the CPP-NPA-NDF who applied for the amnesty.

Records showed that there are 1,576 remaining members of the CPP-NPA-NDF with 1,406 firearms.

President Marcos convened the 5th Execom Meeting of the NTF-ELCAC on Thursday where he directed the immediate implementation of the amnesty program to the remaining communist rebels and reiterated his directive last year for government agencies to activate their respective project development office for the implementation of NTF-ELCAC projects in respective agencies. (PND)