Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has reaffirmed the unwavering support of the House of Representatives for the Duterte administration’s amnesty program for Muslim and communist rebels who agreed to lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law.
“The amnesty program is a huge step toward achieving just
and lasting peace in the country and giving former rebels a path back into
civilian life,” Velasco said.
The House chief issued the statement after the Committees on
Justice and on National Defense and Security approved last Wednesday four
resolutions concurring with the proclamations signed by President Rodrigo Roa
Duterte granting amnesty to members of four major rebel groups.
Speaker Velasco led the filing of House Concurrent
Resolution (HCR) Numbers 12 to 15.
Last month, President Duterte issued Proclamation Nos. 1090
to 1093 granting amnesty to members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Rebolusyunaryong Partido ng
Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade
(RPMP-RPA-ABB), and Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) who have committed crimes
in “furtherance of their political beliefs.”
Velasco said the granting of amnesty is proof of the Duterte
administration’s sincerity and determination to attain sustainable peace in the
country.
According to the House leader, amnesty is “necessary for the
general interest of the Philippines and the Filipino people for a just and
lasting peace.”
Velasco said the creation of the National Amnesty Commission
and the grant of amnesty in favor of MILF would “enable the delivery of an important
commitment of the government under the Comprehensive Agreement on the
Bangsamoro, particularly the gradual normalization of the previously
conflict-affected areas.”
“The amnesty will also provide a meaningful and complete
transformation and assimilation of the MILF decommissioned combatants into
peaceful and progressive lives towards national reconciliation and healing in
the Bangsamoro,” he pointed out.
Velasco said Congress shares the President’s view on the
need to declare amnesty to MNLF members “to promote an atmosphere conducive to
the attainment of a just, comprehensive and enduring equanimity.”
“Both Houses of Congress recognize that transforming MNLF
members from armed combatants to productive citizens and peace partners is
necessary to achieve the paramount ends of the peace process—national unity,
solidarity and progress for all Filipinos,” he said.
In supporting the grant of amnesty to RPMP-RPA-ABB and CTG,
Velasco said the legislature is one with the Duterte government in “nurturing a
climate conducive for peace” and “addressing the root causes of armed conflict
by harmonizing the delivery of basic services and social development packages
in conflict-affected areas and vulnerable communities.”
In his proclamation, President Duterte said there is a need
to reintegrate as soon as possible all rebels and insurgents into the
mainstream society under the rule of law, including those who may have
committed unlawful acts.
The amnesty “shall extinguish any criminal liability for
acts committed in pursuit of political beliefs” and restore political and civil
rights, which were lost due to criminal conviction, the proclamation stated.
However, the amnesty would not cover kidnappings for ransom,
massacres, rape, terrorism, drug trafficking and certain crimes the United
Nations says should never be covered by amnesties, such as genocide, crimes
against humanity and torture.
