CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City (June 30, 2025) — In a continuing effort to promote peace and reconciliation, the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (4ID) of the Philippine Army facilitated the amnesty application of 37 former rebels (FRs) in Agusan del Sur as part of the government’s implementation of Executive Order No. 47 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
A total of 27 former rebels under the custody of the 26th Infantry (Ever Onward) Battalion underwent orientation and formally filed their applications for amnesty on June 25 at the battalion headquarters in Talacogon. The following day, 10 more former rebels, assisted by the 401st Infantry (Unity) Brigade, completed their intake process at Camp Datu Lipus Makapandong in Prosperidad.
The two-day activity was held in coordination with the Provincial Amnesty Board and partner agencies. It featured a detailed orientation on the legal basis, requirements, and benefits of the amnesty program. Atty. Gene B. Presco, Legal Officer of the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur, administered the oath to the applicants.
With this latest batch, the number of former rebels who have applied for amnesty in Agusan del Sur has climbed to 264, up from the previous 227, highlighting the increasing trust in the government’s peace initiatives.
Major General Michele B. Anayron Jr., Commander of the 4ID, emphasized the broader significance of the program. “Amnesty is not just about reducing the number of insurgents; it is about restoring lives, building hope, and providing a real path back into society. This shows our government’s sincerity in fostering reconciliation and long-term peace,” he said.
The 4ID, through its units and in close partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), local government units, and other stakeholders, plays a key role in implementing EO 47 across Northern Mindanao and the Caraga Region.
As the government continues to advance inclusive peace strategies, the 4ID reiterated its unwavering commitment to all peace-building mechanisms that uphold unity, healing, and reintegration in former conflict-affected areas.