• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Amnesty has been granted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to former members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB).
Under Proclamation 403, Marcos granted amnesty to the members of the RPMP-RPA-ABB who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and special penal laws, specifically those committed crimes in pursuit of their political beliefs.
The RPMP-RPA-ABB, who entered into a peace agreement with the government in 2000, is now known as KAPATIRAN. Sixty four of its members and dependents have been integrated into the Armed Forces of the Philippines as CAFGU Active Auxiliaries, as part of the peace agreement.
They have been tasked to protect their resettlement areas in Negros Island, which was previously subject to attacks by the New People’s Army, who also assassinated several of their former leaders and members.
Marcos also issued Proclamation 404 granting amnesty to the former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) or their front organizations who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and Special Penal laws in furtherance of their political beliefs.
The amnesty proclamations are also aimed at encouraging rebels and insurgents to return to the folds of the law, as part of the administration’s comprehensive peace initiatives.
Amnesty is granted to rebels who committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special penal laws, including but not limited to rebellion or insurrection; conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion or insurrection; disloyalty of public officers or employees; and inciting to rebellion or insurrection.
Other offenses include sedition; conspiracy to commit sedition; and inciting to sedition; illegal assembly; illegal association; direct assault; indirect assault; resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or the agents of such person; tumults and other disturbances of public order; unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances; and alarms and scandals.
Also covered are illegal possession of firearms, ammunition or explosives, provided that these crimes or offenses were committed in furtherance of, incident to, or in connection with the crimes of rebellion or insurrection; and those charged, detained or convicted of common crimes but who can establish by substantial evidence that they have actually committed said crimes in pursuit of political beliefs.
The proclamations, however, shall not cover kidnap for ransom, massacre, rape, terrorism, crimes committed against chastity as defined in the Revised Penal Code, crimes committed for personal ends, violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, grave violations of the Geneva Convention of 1949, genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, enforced disappearances, and other gross violations of human rights.
BRIDGE TOWARD HEALING
In a statement Friday, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) said the measure serves as a bridge toward healing and reintegration for individuals who once stood on opposing sides of armed conflict.
“In issuing these Amnesty Proclamations, the President recognizes the complexity of our nation’s history and the diverse narratives that have shaped it. The amnesty initiative seeks to weave together the threads of justice, reconciliation, understanding, unity, and progress, transcending past grievances towards a shared vision of a unified and peaceful Philippines,” NTF ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said.
He also assured that the task force is committed to expediting the implementation of the amnesty grants.
Torres also thanked the President for always “walking the talk with a clear vision rooted in the principles of reconciliation and unity”.* with PNA reports
