Marcos sets sights on healing, reconciliation with insurgents

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the issuance of Safe Conduct Passes (SCPs) to armed rebels, a move Malacañang hailed Friday as a significant step toward national healing and reconciliation.

The memorandum order aims to bolster the government's reintegration efforts for former combatants by simplifying their access to a more inclusive and secure amnesty process.

Under the directive, the National Amnesty Commission is authorized to issue SCPs to eligible amnesty applicants who are not currently detained. These passes will allow them to safely and legally participate in the amnesty program without fear of warrantless arrest, with the government ensuring their safety and security.

Marcos formalized the issuance of the SCP during a visit to Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao. He was accompanied by Army Brig. Gen. Gonzalo H. Siongco, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Interim Chief Minister Abdularaof Macacua and Special Assistant to the President Secretary Anton Lagdameo.

Lagdameo introduced Marcos at the ceremony, where the President emphasized the SCP's role in encouraging more former rebels to seek amnesty and reintegrate into civilian life.

He stressed the importance of participating in the government’s amnesty program to resolve legal obstacles hindering their fresh start in society. Former combatants are eligible for reintegration support, including livelihood programs and government subsidies.

"One of the saddest chapters in our history is the fight of Filipinos against fellow Filipinos," Marcos said. "There are some of our brothers, our fellow Filipinos, who, due to the ideals they fought for, were forced to take a path contrary to the law, the aim of which was to protect and defend them."

"This is an invitation to all rebels to stop the armed struggle. This is a new page to start anew. Set aside personal interests and unite in promoting the progress of our nation," the President added.

Macacua, who is also the chief of staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the armed wing of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), pledged to prioritize the decommissioning of MILF combatants, including himself.

He added that with the creation of the BARMM, the MILF's armed struggle against the Philippine government has formally ended, paving the way for full decommissioning.

Meanwhile, data from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) indicated that over 16,551 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) had already benefited from the government’s reintegration programs as of 2024.