Marcos grants amnesty to CPP-NPA-NDF, other rebel groups

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has granted amnesty to rebels including former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the following groups have been granted amnesty under Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405 and 406, respectively:

• Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB)
• Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) 
• Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
• Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)

The amnesty was granted "to encourage them (rebels) to return to the folds of law," the PCO said.

According to PCO, amnesty is granted to former CPP-NPA-NDF members, or their front organizations that committed crimes whether 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; inciting to rebellion or insurrection; sedition; conspiracy to commit sedition; and inciting to sedition.

Other offenses also include 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; alarms and scandals; illegal possession of firearms, ammunition or explosives, provided that these crimes or offense were committed in furtherance of, incident to, or in connection with the crimes of rebellion or insurrection.

Also covered are 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.

However, the amnesty under the new proclamations does not cover the offenses of kidnap for ransom, massacre, rape, terrorism, crimes committed against chastity, and illegal drugs.

Other exceptions are grave violations of the Geneva Convention of 1949, genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, enforced disappearances, and other gross violations of human rights.

As for the MILF and MNLF, the PCO said any member of the two groups who has committed any act or omission in pursuit of political belief may file an application for amnesty "provided that the crime for which amnesty may be granted must have been committed prior to the issuance of the proclamation."

The amnesty, however, needs the concurrence of a majority of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Article VII, Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution states that the President has "the power to grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority of all the Members of the Congress."

Nat'l Amnesty Commission 

In line with this, Marcos, through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, also issued Executive Order No. 47 amending the EO No. 125, series of 2021, which created the National Amnesty Commission (NAC).

Marcos said the new EO will update the functions of the NAC to cover the processing of the applications for amnesty of the four rebel groups.

“There is hereby created the National Amnesty Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, which shall be primarily tasked with receiving and processing applications for amnesty and determining whether the applicants are entitled to amnesty under Proclamation Nos.  403, 404, 405 and 406,” the President’s EO read. 

In a statement, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said the amnesty proclamation "opens a door for a renewed sense of unity and understanding, fostering an environment where former rebels, as well as their families, can rebuild their lives, uplift their conditions, and contribute positively to our shared goal of pursuing peace in the country."

"It is also our hope that this will serve as an inspiration for members of these various rebel groups to take this opportunity in our continued efforts to achieve our collective vision of bringing a just and lasting peace to the country," he said.—Joviland Rita/KBK/AOL, GMA Integrated News