AFP supports amnesty to former CTG members

AFP supports amnesty to former CTG members

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expressed its support in granting amnesty to former rebels who returned to the fold of the government.

AFP Chief of Staff General Andres Centino, in an interview, said he approved the granting of amnesty to former members of the Communist party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), who have returned to the government.

“I have advocated that other government approaches in dealing with insurgency should be considered, such as granting an amnesty,” said Gen. Andres Centino Chief of Staff, AFP.

What concerns the former rebels in their complete surrender and return to society is the possible accountability for the cases they are involved in.

Based on government records, thousands of rebels have surrendered to the government in the continued weakness of Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) throughout the Philippines.

“The strength of the Communist Terrorist Group has been significantly reduced, and their presence is only in a few remaining areas in the country, and that is where our focus is,” Gen. Andres Centino added.

Gen. Centino emphasized the importance of the expanded strategy in addressing the issue of insurgency in the country.

This includes non-combat ways, such as the government’s reintegration program called the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), as well as other activities that allow the AFP to pursue opponents without the use of force.

Meanwhile, the general is confident it will take little time and completely dismount and reduce the force of communist terrorist rebels.

“We are confident that it will not take long before their force is reduced to a minimum,”  according to Gen. Centino.

In this regard, the general continued encouraging the remaining rebels to return to the government and urging the public to accept them, whom he called ‘friends rescued’.

 “By achieving the goal of really creating an environment of enduring peace, i think that will be the victory of the Filipino people. Then we will have the progress and development that we, for so long, deserve. With peace, there is progress,” he said.

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