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623 former NPA rebels file for amnesty in Davao Region

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron

THE APPLICATION period for the government’s amnesty program formally concluded on March 13, with 623 former communist rebels managing to enroll in the program, data from the Office of the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) XI showed.

Secretary Leo Tereso Magno, CORDS XI chairperson and Mindanao Development Authority chief, hailed the development as a triumph for reconciliation and national unity.

“We recognize this as a significant milestone for the Davao Region,” Magno said in a statement. “It reinforces the conditions for inclusive growth and stability, aligning with the national government’s goal of a just and lasting peace.”

The National Amnesty Commission and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) guided applicants through the legal process.

Magno also highlighted the “pivotal” role of Kalinaw Southeastern Mindanao Inc., an organization composed of former rebels and a member of the JRTF-ELCAC XI Technical Working Group. It served as a bridge between the government and those still in the underground movement.

While the application phase has ended, Magno emphasized that peacebuilding efforts will not stop.

“Peace requires sustained cooperation to address the root causes of armed conflict,” he said. “Our work continues to ensure that the Davao Region maintains its insurgency-free status and protects the gains we have achieved for sustainable development.”

The amnesty program aims to provide former combatants with a path toward legal reintegration, effectively removing the threat of prosecution for political crimes and allowing them to return to mainstream society.

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Former rebels voice concern over acquittal of alleged CPP-NPA Cadres 

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron

BUKLOD Kapayapaan, a national federation of former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), was dismayed by the recent acquittal and release of several individuals they identify as leaders and cadres of the armed movement. 

In a Facebook post on Aug. 18 by Arian Jane Ramos, national spokesperson, the group highlighted the potential impact of the court’s decision on peacebuilding efforts and public trust in the justice system.

The statement specifically addressed the acquittal of Central Committee members Tirso Alcantara and Renante Gamara, along with Dionisio Almonte, Diony Borre, and Raul Razo. 

While acknowledging the independence of the judiciary, Buklod Kapayapaan asserted that these individuals are known to them through their “firsthand experience with the structure, operations, and strategies of the CPP-NPA.” 

Gamara, Borre, and Razo were released on Aug. 14, 2025, while Almonte remains in custody and Alcantara is at large.

The five individuals, along with 32 others, were charged in connection with a 2007 case that included the abduction and killing of a soldier in Mauban, Quezon. 

Buklod Kapayapaan claimed that Alcantara and Gamara should be held responsible for numerous crimes under the doctrine of command responsibility, citing documented cases of children involved in armed conflict and the willful killings of civilians.

The organization warned that the court’s decision “undermines the message we bring to communities that choosing the path of peace, truth, and accountability remains the right and just course.” 

The group noted the painful reality that many former rebels who have surrendered still face legal cases, while their “unrepentant former leaders are the ones who are walking free.”

Buklod Kapayapaan concluded its statement by urging the government and the judiciary to ensure that legal outcomes are aligned with the goals of reconciliation, public trust, and national security, stating that “peace without justice and accountability is fragile and will, ultimately, be unsustainable.”

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Mother’s plea to prevent youth NPA recruitment: be present in your kids’ lives

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron

DRAWING from the heartbreaking experience of her own daughter’s alleged recruitment by the New People’s Army (NPA), a concerned mother is spearheading a call to action for parents to become more proactive in safeguarding their children from insurgent influences, both in schools and online.

Amid heightened concerns over youth recruitment by the New People’s Army (NPA), parents are being urged to be “vigilant” and actively scrutinize their children’s affiliations, especially those showing anti-government sentiments. 

The warning comes from Luisa Espina, vice chair of Hands-Off Our Children, whose own daughter was allegedly swayed to join the rebel ranks.

Hands-Off Our Children is a group of parents who banded together to counter the propaganda and recruitment activities of the CPP.

She cited as an example her own daughter, Louvaine Erika, who was reportedly recruited by the NPA, as a cautionary tale.

“To my fellow parents, be vigilant about the organizations your children join. If the organization your child is joining harbors resentment towards the government, you should already be keeping an eye on your child,” Espina urged. 

“It’s better to supervise your child than to regret it later. You need to be alert, unlike us, who weren’t aware of those recruiting young people to join the NPA in the mountains. We had no knowledge of that.”

Espina emphasized that parental awareness can prevent many young people and their families from falling victim to such recruitment. 

She specifically named several organizations that she claims her daughter was involved with, including Anakbayan, Gabriela Youth, Kabataan Partylist, and LFS, among others.

She also cautioned that these groups are now reportedly using different names to conceal their true identities, urging parents to be more observant of the groups their children affiliate with. 

Furthermore, Espina warned that recruitment is now happening online. She advised parents to check the websites and online platforms their children browse to ensure they aren’t exposed to recruitment attempts.

Photo courtesy of Rhoda Grace B Saron

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White area operations weaken in Davao Region, shift to Northern Mindanao, says former rebel leader

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron

WHILE “white area” operations, referring to legal fronts and political movements linked to communist insurgents, persist in the Davao Region, their influence has significantly diminished, and their strategic center has shifted to Cagayan de Oro City. 

This was the assessment of Jam Saguino, a former high-ranking rebel leader and now a peace advocate, of Kalinaw Davao de Oro in the Davao Peace and Security press conference on Wednesday, June 2, 2025.

Saguino confirmed the continued presence of these groups across the broader Davao Region but stressed they are “not as strong as before” compared to previous years. 

She noted that many of these efforts now originate from Metro Manila, citing examples from the National Capital Region, extending to Davao City, primarily targeting youth and students.

However, Saguino clarified that the Davao Region itself “no longer has the capacity to operate” militarily, as the last remnants of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee’s (SMRC) armed component were reportedly arrested in Bunawan. 

Despite the persistence of white areas and front organizations, he said they are “not considered a significant threat” by former rebels like himself.

He revealed that no new recruits have been monitored from previously identified strongholds, such as the schools mentioned, but TIMES will not reveal the names of these institutions.

“For us, it’s okay to have progressive groups, as long as they don’t take up arms in the mountains,” he added.

Saguino dismissed their current influence as a major threat, remarking on the small numbers typically seen in their rallies. 

He claimed these groups are struggling to recruit from communities, even with existing funding, primarily because the SMRC is no longer active locally.

 She also noted that other KOMID (Komite Mindanao) from different regions are now “adopting” them.

Providing a key insight into the evolving strategy of these groups, Saguino stated that based on classified information, the “center of political power” for white area operations in Mindanao has now shifted to Cagayan de Oro City. 

“This is why most of the white area efforts… just recently, they had a resumption of negotiations last week held in Cagayan de Oro City, where groups from NCR, Manila, and Cebu convened for the resumption of peace talks,” she explained.

She concluded by reiterating her assessment: “For us, the presence of front organizations here in Davao is no longer a significant threat.”

Photo courtesy of Rhoda Grace B Saron 

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