TACLOBAN CITY — The Local Amnesty Board (LAB) of Catbalogan City has intensified the implementation of the government’s amnesty program in Samar and Northern Samar, issuing safe conduct passes(SCPs) to former rebels and extending assistance to detained applicants as part of ongoing efforts to promote peace and reintegration.

In separate activities across the two provinces, the LAB issued a total of 22 SCPs to former rebels who had applied for amnesty, while also assisting detainees whose applications are still being processed.

In Northern Samar, 11 SCPs were distributed during a ceremony held at the headquarters of the 20th Infantry Battalion in Barangay San Jorge, Las Navas. The former rebels had earlier submitted their amnesty applications under the government’s program.

An SCP is a document issued by the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) to applicants who are not in detention. It grants safe passage and legal protection while their amnesty applications are under evaluation by the Office of the President, unless revoked by the Commission.

The activity was attended by Col. Ericson Rosana, deputy brigade commander of the 803rd Infantry Brigade; Lt. Col. Tim Clavel, commander of the 20th Infantry Battalion; 1st Lt. Aldren Altamero, civil-military operations officer; and a representative from the Las Navas Municipal Police Station. Prior to the distribution, the LAB Secretariat conducted a briefing to explain SCP guidelines and limitations.

Lt. Col. Clavel welcomed the former rebels’ decision to return to the fold of the law and assured them of the military’s continued support throughout the reintegration process.
Following the issuance of the passes, three former rebels who had previously applied for amnesty formally took their oath of allegiance before Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) lawyers Atty. Ferminlino C. Ultra and Atty. Joan Anacta. Three additional former rebels also filed their amnesty applications during the same activity.

In a separate ceremony at the Matuguinao Municipal Hall in Samar, the LAB issued another 11 SCPs to former rebels, after a similar briefing on SCP guidelines conducted by the LAB Secretariat. The event was attended by 2nd Lt. Ricky Isiderio, commanding officer of Alpha Company, 19th Infantry Battalion, and Police Executive Master Sergeant Alberto Vencio of the Matuguinao Police Station.

During the ceremony, one beneficiary shared a testimonial expressing remorse for past actions and sought forgiveness from the government. PEMS Vencio reminded the recipients that the SCP covers only offenses related to insurgency and does not provide immunity for crimes committed after the issuance of the document.

Meanwhile, the Catbalogan LAB, in coordination with the 19th Infantry “Commando” Battalion, conducted a jail visitation at the Allen Sub-Provincial Jail in Barangay Sabang Zone 1, Allen, Northern Samar. The team assisted two detained high-profile former rebels by providing updates on an existing amnesty application and facilitating the processing of a Custodial Debriefing Report for another detainee who expressed willingness to apply for amnesty.

The LAB said it will return to the facility with a Public Attorney’s Office lawyer to administer the required oath of allegiance, ensuring that all legal requirements are completed as part of the former rebels’ reintegration into mainstream society.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — A new batch of aspiring police officers has begun formal training as the Police Regional Training Center 8 (PRTC-8) officially opened the Public Safety Basic Recruit Course (PSBRC) Batch 2025-01, marking a crucial step in strengthening the police force in Eastern Visayas.

A total of 270 police recruits were formally admitted into the training program during opening ceremonies and reception rites held at around 4 p.m. on December 26, 2025, at the PRTC-8 facility in Kuta Kankabato, Barangay San Jose, here.

The recruits were organized into five training companies — Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Echo — as they begin several months of intensive instruction covering physical conditioning, academic studies, and values formation.

Police Colonel Susan Mangaldan, chief of RTC-8, served as the keynote speaker and reminded the recruits that the course will test not only their physical and mental endurance but also their discipline, integrity, and moral character.

She emphasized that the training is designed to mold recruits into professional, ethical, and service-oriented police officers committed to upholding the law and protecting the public.
Following the formal program, the trainees underwent the traditional Reception Rites, a standard Philippine National Police (PNP) practice symbolizing their transition from civilian life to the disciplined environment of police training. The activity underscores the responsibilities, sacrifices, and accountability expected of future members of the PNP.

The opening of PSBRC Batch 2025-01 marks the start of a rigorous training period aimed at preparing the recruits to effectively maintain peace and order and uphold the rule of law in their future assignments.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict welcomes the recent ruling of the Court of Appeals that affirmed a Regional Trial Court’s conviction in the Talaingod 13 case. It is, above all, a victory not just for the Lumad communities of Mindanao, but for all indigenous peoples across the country.

For more than three decades, many Lumad communities have been treated as pawns by the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front and its legal machinery, drawn into an ideological and political agenda that did not serve their long-term welfare. They were paraded as symbols, mobilized for campaigns, and, in many instances, reduced to milking cows that sustained the movement’s operations. The court’s decision sends a strong message that exploitation, even when cloaked in the appearance of advocacy, should be confronted by law.

The ruling is not an assault on activism, dissent, or the right to advocate for indigenous peoples. These freedoms remain protected by the Constitution. The conviction stems from specific acts found by the courts to have violated Republic Act 7610, which protects children from abuse, exploitation, and endangerment.

The courts have ruled on evidence and statutes, not on slogans or posturing. To claim that the decision amounts to persecution of activism ignores the history and context of the ruling. The accused were tried before a Regional Trial Court, convicted, and afforded every opportunity to challenge the judgment. They appealed, and the Court of Appeals reviewed the case and affirmed the ruling.

Disagreeing with a decision does not make the ruling unjust, and it certainly does not entitle anyone to dismiss the authority of the courts. In the case of the Talaingod 13, due process was observed, step by step.

Lest the focus is drowned out by noise, it should be remembered that the case is about child protection. The State has a clear obligation to protect children from unauthorized transfers, exposure to harm, and exploitation, regardless of the cause invoked.
Advocacy does not grant immunity when children are placed at risk. Laws like RA 7610 exist precisely to draw firm boundaries that cannot be crossed, even in the name of politics or ideology.

There is also a broader pattern that we must recognize. Former rebels who have disavowed the armed movement, especially in its use of minors in the so-called people’s war, have long pointed out the familiar, almost automatic refrain from national democratic groups whenever the law catches up with them. Almost reflexively, they demand to abolish the NTF-ECLAC, a call that has become too predictable, it is no longer surprising.

The task force has nothing to do with the ruling. Judicial outcomes are decided by independent courts based on evidence presented before them. Calling for the dismantling of institutions every time accountability is enforced is not a defense of rights but a vain attempt to evade responsibility.

Respect for institutions, particularly the courts, is essential to peace and democracy. Protecting children, respecting the rule of law, and ensuring accountability are not obstacles to peace. They are its foundations.

Lasting peace will not be built by exploiting communities or dismantling institutions when challenged, but by affirming, consistently and without exception, that the law applies to all. (PR)