Ex-rebels await amnesty after Congress nod

ILIGAN CITY — Peace advocates and former Moro revolutionaries welcomed the Senate’s concurrence to the amnesty proclamations of President Marcos, paving the way for the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) to start processing former rebels seeking official reprieve for their political offenses.

During its session on Wednesday, the Senate concurred in Presidential Proclamation No. 404 granting amnesty to the former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and its front organizations.

READ: Amnesty form for ex-rebels accessible online starting this week 

Earlier, on March 4, the Senate gave its nod to Presidential Proclamation Nos. 403, 405, and 406 granting amnesty to former members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), respectively.

Reintegration

“By giving amnesty, we are opening a window of opportunity for former rebels to reintegrate into mainstream society as peaceful and productive individuals. This, in itself, is an act of compassion and reconciliation that will allow the healing of wounds caused by armed conflict, and break down the barriers of fear, animosity, and divisiveness among our people,” Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a statement on Thursday.

The concurrence by the Senate to the four amnesty proclamations was sponsored by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, chair of the committee on national defense and security, with Sen. Risa Hontiveros as cosponsor.

Last December, the House of Representatives gave its nod to the amnesty measures.

READ: Making peace, making history

Estrada had said that the congressional concurrence to the amnesty proclamations “signifies the Filipino people’s support [for] the comprehensive peace efforts and genuine commitment of the government to attaining lasting peace.”

He noted that at least 2,000 former members of the MNLF, 1,200 from RPMP-RPA-ABB, and 400 from the MILF were expected to avail of the amnesty grant. —RYAN D. ROSAURO AND EDWIN O. FERNANDEZ