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- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 | Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News
COTABATO CITY (SDN) — Fulfilling his promise, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has granted amnesty to various former revolutionaries, stepping up his administration’s push to achieve peace, unity, and understanding among Filipinos.
During his Second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 26 this year, he vowed to grant amnesty to rebels who returned to the fold of the law to let them live without looking over their shoulder.
In his SONA, he asked a joint session of Congress to support his plans on the grant of amnesty.
On Friday, November 24, the Philippine Communications Office (PCO) announced the President’s signing of Presidential Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405, and 406.
PP No. 405 pertains to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chaired by Ahod Balawag “Al-Haj Murad” Ebrahim, concurrent Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The amnesty grantees included former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and Special Penal law to advance their political belief.
Members of the communist assassination squad, the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB) were not left out either in the amnesty grant.
BARMM Education Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal, chair of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel for the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), took note of the amnesty.
He said the” MILF Peace Panel highly welcomes the recent issuance of (PP No. 405) granting amnesty to members of the (MILF) who have committed crimes in furtherance of their political beliefs to advance freedom and self-determination for the Bangsamoro people.”
Iqbal described the amnesty grant as “an essential requisite to allow thousands of mujahideen (Muslim guerrilla fighters), decommissioned combatants, members and supporters of the MILF to once again live peaceful and normal lives, free from any fear of possible arrest and detention.”
The head of the Bangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), Iqbal, who wears many hats in the Mindanao peace process, said the PP No. 405 will lead to what he believes would be “the immediate release of numerous detained MILF members” still in jails as they await the CAB’s promise of amnesty and pardon.
“I sincerely thank and commend President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for extending the hand of healing and reconciliation not only to the MILF but also the members of the (MNLF) and other revolutionary organizations.”
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But there’s a catch in the presidential grant of amnesty.
Grave offenses such as kidnap for ransom, massacre, rape, terrorism, crimes committed against chastity as defined in the Revised Penal Code, and other crimes committed for personal end are not covered.
There are other exclusions as well such as crimes violating Republic Act (RA) No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, grave violations of the Geneva Convention of 1949, and genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, enforced disappearances, and other gross violations of human rights.
Apparently, to implement the grant of amnesty to qualified ex-combatants, the President issued Executive Order No. (EO) No. 47 that amended EO No. 125, Series of 2021, creating the National Amnesty Commission (NAC).
Iqbal, who signed the landmark CAB with her Government of the Philippines (GPH) counterpart, Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, more than nine years ago on September 27, 2014, also dubbed the amnesty as a gesture demonstrating political inclusivity and strong leadership to pave the way for final closure of past enmities, rancor, and bitterness which are obstacles to lasting amity and unity of the Filipino nation.
In relation with this, the MILF and BARMM official strongly called on the soon-to-be constituted National Amnesty Commission to fast-track the grand of pardon and amnesty to those who are currently detained as well as aging and sick MILF members with outstanding warrants of arrest hampering the basic necessity of getting medical treatment.
Finally, Iqbal, speaking on behalf of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel, extended his “heartfelt gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for his visionary leadership in advancing the peace process and remaining steadfast in the full implementation of the peace agreement.”
He further described the President’s amnesty grant on former revolutionaries as “a monumental step that contributes significantly to the realization of a just, comprehensive, and enduring peace not only in the Bangsamoro but all over the country.” (/)