TACLOBAN CITY — The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) has pledged its support to the provincial government of Northern Samar in processing amnesty applications for former rebels in the province.

Lawyer Ma. Victoria Cardona, a consultant to the NAC’s Office of the Executive Director, made this commitment during her recent visit to Northern Samar, where she met with former rebels in Catarman and Mondragon.

Cardona stated that the NAC would collaborate with the provincial government to streamline the amnesty application process, emphasizing the importance of the program and assuring applicants of a smooth experience.

“We will return to discuss the process with you — how to apply, what requirements are needed. We will make the process as easy as we can because this program is crucial for achieving stability in our region. We will ensure that the process is thorough and that deserving individuals are granted amnesty,” she stated.

Cardona was accompanied by Imelda Bonifacio, program manager of Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPPRU) Eastern Visayas, and Col. Ericson Rosanna, deputy brigade commander of the 803rd Brigade, in her visits to the Darangpan Center in Catarman and Kauswagan Village in Barangay Cablangan, Mondragon.
The amnesty program is a significant initiative in the government’s efforts to promote long-term stability and support the reintegration of former rebels.

It provides a legal pathway for former members of political groups, including the CPP-NPA-NDF, to reintegrate into society without facing prosecution for past political offenses.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Health(DOH) in Eastern Visayas in coordination with the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC), has deployed on Oct.29, a specialized team of 18 healthcare professionals to the Bicol Region to support the local response following the devastation of Tropical Storm Kristine.

The team, led by Dr. Brian Marmita of the Eastern Visayas Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT), is composed of doctors, nurses, and allied health workers ready to assist in areas most affected by the storm.

Their primary destination is Naga City General Hospital, where they will join Health Emergency Response Teams (HERTs) already on the ground, working around the clock to address the urgent health needs of the impacted communities, the DOH-8 said in a statement.

Equipped with essential medical supplies and resources, the EVMC team aims to provide immediate care, manage injuries, prevent potential disease outbreaks, and deliver critical healthcare services to those in dire need.

For DOH-8 and EVMC, this deployment highlights a strong commitment to inter-regional solidarity and rapid emergency response, ensuring that critical healthcare resources reach communities most affected by crises.

Working alongside local HERTs, the EVMC team is reinforcing the resilience and responsiveness of the country’s healthcare system in times of emergency.

Also helping in the rescue operations were members of the 8th Infantry Division which dispatched 20 of its personnel and were deployed in Camarines Sur to distribute much-needed relief supplies to communities affected by recent calamities.

The soldiers brought with them 1,400 food packs, 1,400 boxes of drinking water, and 1,000 boxes of biscuits to barangays in Minalabac, a statement from the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, Samar, said.

Altogether, the task force has provided 1,300 units of drinking water, 100 family water filtration units, and 3,481 non-food items to families displaced by the storm.

Brigadier General Perfecto Peñaredondo, the acting commander of the 8ID, reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to relief efforts. “We stand with our communities in these challenging times, working hand in hand with local governments to deliver essential support,” he stated.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)