Few former Moro rebels seek amnesty despite government encouragement

Only a small number of former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have applied for amnesty, despite earlier encouragement from Bangsamoro Interim Chief Ahod Ebrahim. The National Amnesty Commission reports that just 344 out of 40,000 have applied. Amnesty is part of the peace agreement signed in 2014, aimed at ending decades of conflict. The government has also opened amnesty applications to other rebel groups, including the Moro National Liberation Front and the Communist Party of the Philippines-led New People’s Army. As of December 18, a total of 1,665 individuals from various groups have applied for amnesty. The National Amnesty Commission is urging ex-combatants to apply through local boards set up in several cities and provinces.