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- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 | Facebook: SDN — SciTech and Digital News
COTABATO CITY (SDN)— Some of the tough leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), such as Commander Bravo and Commander Jack, and others have applied for amnesty with the National Amnesty Commission (NAC).
None other than NAC Chair Leah Tanodra Armamento accepted the amnesty applications in the Commission’s office in the city, the capital of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In a report that city-based DXMS Radyo Bida made it was mentioned that senior officials and Front commanders of the MILF who are planning eyeing to participate in scheduled inaugural parliamentary elections in May 2025 submitted their amnesty applications.
MILF Peace Implementing Panel Chair Mohagher M. Iqbal, who accompanied the former combatants, said the senior officials and Front commanders are the priority to be granted amnesty.
Armamento traveled to Cotabato City to grace the ceremonial submission of amnesty application on Friday, August 30, to the NAC. She has been and still now a vital cog in the Mindanao peace process.
“The leadership of the MILF is hopeful that amnesty would be granted to the senior officials and Front commanders soonest time possible, especially that they will participate in the first parliamentary political exercise (of the Bangsamoro region),” says Iqbal.
As the setup of the parliamentary government in the BARMM goes, there are 80 Members of Parliament (MPs) positions to be contested by at least eight regional political parties.
The winning MPs will then select the first regular Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro government established in January 2019 by the 2018 Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). The BOL implements the historic 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) the Philippine Government (GPH) signed with the MILF chaired by Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim, interim BARMM Chief Minister.
According to the report, some of those who submitted amnesty application are MPs Jack Abas (Commander Jack), MP Dan Asnawi, MP Abdullah Macapaar (Commander Bravo), and others.
There are cases or crimes not covered by amnesty
Iqbal, chief negotiator of the MILF in the 17 years peace process with GPH, said that aside from the senior officials and Front commanders, other members of the MILF are also expected to submit their applications for amnesty as they formally seek integration in the nation’s mainstream society.
It was also mentioned in the report that Armamento and NAC Commissioner Jamal Kulayan accepted the applicants’ folders containing supporting documents.
Meanwhile, the NAC said the approval and grant of amnesty to the applicants may take around 100 days.
After the issuance last year of Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405, and 406 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., the NAC opened the doors for those who want to avail themselves of the privilege. That was after the Senate stamped its approval on the four proclamations, which the President announced in his 2nd State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2023.
“It’s time to leave the past behind and embrace a brighter future! Mark your calendars! Applicants have 2 years to file their applications with the Local Amnesty Board (LAB) near their area. Members of the RPMP-RPA-ABB, MILF, and MNLF may file their application until March 4, 2026, while former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF and their front organizations may file their application until March 13, 2026,” the NAC announced.
Amnesty applicants may file their applications in LABs near them, such as in the National Capital Region (NCR), Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Cagayan de Oro City, Cotabato City, Davao City, Pagadian City, Isabela City, Basilan, and Jolo, Sulu.
However, there are cases that are not covered by amnesty, including involvement in kidnap-for-ransom, massacre, rape, terrorism, illegal drugs, torture, and other extreme violations of human rights.
The amnesty proclamations aimed at pushing forward initiatives for peace and convince former rebels to return to the fold of the government.
In a related development, the NAC has conducted a meeting with the officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the second week of August “to ensure a fair and humane process for those seeking amnesty while safeguarding their legal rights.” (/)