Manila, April 24 -- The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said Friday it has formally endorsed the extension of the Amnesty Program for another two years to give more former rebels the chance to rebuild their lives and return to mainstream society.

NTF-ELCAC Executive Director, Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., in a statement, said that while the program technically ended on March 13, the proposal from the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) aims to accommodate the growing number of applicants.

He explained that the first two years were largely spent on organizing the commission and establishing local boards, which is why processing is only now gaining momentum.

He also stressed that reconciliation i...