President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued an executive order and other proclamations granting amnesty to rebels and insurgents as part of the administration's efforts toward peace, Malacañang said on Friday.

Executive Order (EO) No. 47, issued by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on November 22, 2023, revised Executive Order No. 125 from 2021, which established the National Amnesty Commission (NAC).

The President highlighted the necessity of amending and modernizing the functions of the National Amnesty Commission to accommodate the processing of amnesty applications by the newly issued proclamations.

"There is hereby created the National Amnesty Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, which shall be primarily tasked with receiving and processing applications for amnesty and determining whether the applicants are entitled to amnesty under Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405, and 406," the EO read.

The Commission established through EO No. 125 will persist and will be disbanded upon fulfilling its purpose or as decided by the President, it stated.

Through Proclamation No. 403, President Marcos extended amnesty to individuals belonging to the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB) who have committed offenses punishable under the Revised Penal Code and specific penal statutes. This applies specifically to those who committed crimes motivated by their political convictions, whether punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special penal statutes.

However, this proclamation excludes crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, massacres, rape, terrorism, offenses committed against chastity as defined in the Revised Penal Code, crimes for personal gain, violations of Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), severe breaches of the Geneva Convention of 1949, as well as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, enforced disappearances, and other severe human rights violations.

Furthermore, the President issued Proclamation No. 404, granting amnesty to former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) who have committed offenses punishable under the Revised Penal Code and special penal laws while pursuing their political beliefs.