Marcos: Peace process crucial to progress

TACLOBAN, Leyte — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed continuous support for the peace process, noting unity can be achieved despite political differences.

"Know very well that we, in the national government, are very supportive and will continue to be supportive of all you are doing," Marcos said as he led the oath-taking of new members of the local amnesty boards of Eastern Visayas in Tacloban City on Friday.

"Now that we have the amnesty board here, there is a mechanism in place for us to bring back into the fold of the law and into society those who opposed the state for a while, for a good long while," he added.

Local amnesty boards were established by the National Amnesty Commission across the country to conduct eligibility assessments and make recommendations concerning amnesty applications of former rebels.

"And this is why, this is necessary now for government and those former fighters to come together for the good of the country, for the good of the nation. I'm very happy that we are able to finally do it again and begin that very arduous process of them assimilating back into society, those who have chosen for a while to live outside our society," Marcos said.