• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced yesterday that he will issue a proclamation granting amnesty to former rebels to complete the reintegration process.
“I ask Congress to support us in this endeavor,” the President stressed during his second State of the Nation Address yesterday at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.
Marcos said that the country is now nearing a peaceful solution to its problems concerning Filipinos who have taken arms against the government.
“For almost half a century, some of our fellow Filipinos have taken to arms to make their views heard. We are now at a point in our history when their armed struggle has evolved. We have now progressed together towards peace and development,” he noted.
Marcos said the government had incorporated capacity-building and social protection into its reintegration programs, to guarantee full decommissioning of former combatants.
“Through community development and livelihood programs, the Barangay Development and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Programs have been effective in addressing the root cause of conflict in the countryside,” the President emphasized.
Marcos Jr. also assured continued efforts to strengthen the country’s police and military to ensure “strong and stable rule of law” as the foundation of the country’s transformation.
“Our Police and Armed Forces are being strengthened and modernized, to be more effective in maintaining peace and order and in defending our sovereignty,” the Chief Executive said,
Marcos also said the stiff campaign against illegal drugs continues, which he said has taken on “a new face” and is now geared towards community-based treatment, rehabilitation, education and reintegration, to curb drug dependence among the affected citizenry.
“Last year, we launched the ‘Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan’ or BIDA Program, and established additional 102 Balay Silangan Reformation Centers nationwide,” Marcos said.
While focusing on rehabilitation of drug dependents, Marcos vowed to continue the fight against drug syndicates by shutting down their illegal activities and dismantling their network of operations.
This includes going after law enforcers and their accomplices found implicated in the illegal drug trade.
“Unscrupulous law enforcers and others involved in the highly nefarious drug trade have been exposed. I will be accepting their resignations. We cannot tolerate corruption or incompetence in government,” Marcos said.*with PNA report
