WITH the deadline for national amnesty applications just weeks away, the push for peace in Mindanao is pushing forward, marked by a mass surrender of 92 former rebels in Davao del Norte and a surge of amnesty filings in Bukidnon.
On Tuesday, Jan. 27, 92 former members of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) formally surrendered to authorities in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
This comes as the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) warns that former rebels have fewer than 50 days left — until March 13, 2026 — to apply for amnesty.
Issued by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr on Nov. 22, 2023, Proclamation No. 404, is the presidential directive granting amnesty to members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
Mass surrender in Talaingod
The 92 individuals, previously attached to dismantled Guerrilla Fronts and Pulang Bagani Commands, were presented at the Balimba Hills Activity Center in Barangay Sto. Niño.
Maj. Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, welcomed the group not as captives, but as partners in development.
“This is not a surrender for me — this is an embrace of Kalinaw. Starting today, you are no longer former rebels; you are our peace partners,” Maj. Gen. Luzon said.
10ID Spokesman Maj. Ruben Gadut told The Inquirer the former Maoist guerrillas turned over 29 firearms.
For returnee Johnrey Manayag, the surrender offered a stark contrast to life in the hinterlands.
“Boluntaryo kong nisurrender kay nakita nako nga ang gobyerno ug ang sundalo tinuod nga mutabang ug mag-atiman sa mga gustong magbag-o sa ilang kinabuhi,” Manayag said.
He likened their life in the mountains to being prisoners with no future, contrasting it with the hope and opportunity for a fresh start he found with the government.
The surrender in Talaingod was facilitated by the 60th Infantry Battalion, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, and tribal leaders, while the amnesty intake in Bukidnon was supported by the 8th Infantry Battalion and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.
The race for amnesty
The events in Talaingod mirror a broader trend across Northern Mindanao. Just days earlier, on Jan. 23, the Local Amnesty Board of Cagayan de Oro (LAB CDO) reported a significant spike in applicants in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon.
Sixty-seven (67) former rebels — many currently housed in the “Balay Ta Kalinaw” halfway house — filed for amnesty in a single day. This brings the total applications from Bukidnon to 506, a figure that represents 60% of the total applications received by the Cagayan de Oro board.
According to the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), this represents a 300% increase in applications compared to October 2025.
The surge is being driven by the issuance of Safe Conduct Passes and the recent approval of 16 amnesty cases by the Office of the President, signaling that the government is delivering on its promise of legal reprieve.
Another Talaingod returnee, Lolong Manayao Maunlad, urged those still in the mountains to take apply for amnesty now.
“Habang maaga pa mag-surrender na sana talaga sila kasi para maiwas niyo na rin ang buhay niyo sa kahirapan,” Maunlad said.
The NAC is currently conducting an intensified intake campaign, including caravans in remote areas, to ensure “no man is left behind” before the March 13 cutoff.
