House plenary backs amnesty for ex-rebels

The House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted House Concurrent Resolutions (HCR) 19, 20, 21, and 22, which concurred with Presidential Proclamations granting amnesty to former members of four rebel groups, including communist rebels.

Of the four House Concurrent Resolutions, two were approved unanimously: the amnesty for ex-members of the Rebolusyong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas / Revolution Proletarian Army / Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB) under HCR 19 and amnesty for ex-members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MNLF) under HCR 21.

HCR 20 which grants amnesty to former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) had 225 yes votes and three no votes. HCR 22, which grants amnesty to former members of the Moro National Liberation Front, meanwhile, had 229 yes votes and one no vote.

The amnesty provided by the four HCRs covers those who have committed crimes in pursuit of their political beliefs, whether punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special penal laws, including but not limited to the following:

• 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
• 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
• Alarms and scandals
• 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
• 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 grant of amnesty to former combatants or rebels, who may have committed unlawful acts in furtherance of their respective political beliefs and who wish to return to the folds of the law, will create a climate conducive for peace and reconciliation, pave the way for them to reintegrate into the society, and provide them access to the government’s socio-economic services,” the House Resolutions read.

Political party leaders in the House of Representatives also earlier expressed support to the House Concurrent Resolutions and Presidential Proclamations granting amnesty.

“We acknowledge the diverse perspectives and ideologies within our ranks, yet we stand together in our commitment to the greater good of the Philippines. President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s call for peace transcends political boundaries and speaks to the core of our shared values as Filipinos. It is a call for understanding, cooperation, and collective action towards a future where every citizen can live in harmony and prosperity,” the joint statement read.

Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr., Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose "Mannix" M. Dalipe, Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co, and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco of the Partido Navoteño were the signatories of the joint statement.

But for opposition lawmaker France Castro of ACT Teachers party-list, the amnesty provided under HCR 20 criminalizes the peaceful exercise of dissent since it involves “former CPP-NPA-NDF members or their front organizations.”

Castro, who also serves as House Deputy Minority Leader, decried the National Amnesty Commission’s statement during the committee deliberations on the amnesty, which regarded the members of the unarmed group League of Filipino Students (LFS) charged with illegal assembly as among those covered by the amnesty.

“Former combatants and rebels ba ang mga nag-rally? Former member ba ng sila ng CPP-NPA-NDF? Front organization ba ang LFS? Ang sagot ay hindi. Inihahanay ang constitutionally guaranteed rights, tulad ng freedom of expression, right to strike at iba pa, sa rebelyon,” Castro said.

(Are those who participated in a rally former combatants and rebels? Are these people former members of CPP-NPA-NDF? Is LFS a front organization? The answer is no. But this amnesty classifies constitutionally guaranteed rights, like freedom of expression, right to strike, among others, as rebellion.)

“Nire-redtag at tinuturing na rebelde ang mga aktibista, mga progresibong organisasyon at miyembro ng oposisyon. Hindi pinag-iiba ang humahawak ng armas sa mga hindi armadong mga sibilyan. Ibinabalik ng Proklamasyong ito ang pinawalang-bisang RA 1700 o Anti-Subversion Act. Malinaw na hindi ito para magkaroon ng climate conducive to peace and reconciliation,” Castro added.

(This policy lumps activists, progressive groups, and opposition groups with armed communist rebels because it does not distinguish those who are armed from unarmed civilians. This policy restores the outlawed Anti-Subversion Act.)

Before granting amnesty, Castro said that the government should finish the peace talks first.

“Ang ideal na proseso ay magkaroon ng peace process at maresolba ang ugat ng armadong pakikibaka ng mga rebelde. Ang amnesty ay ibinibigay pagkatapos ng peace process at pagkatapos magdeklara ng end of hostilities. Hindi baliktad,” Castro added.

(The ideal way is to resume the peace process first and solve the root causes of the armed conflict. The amnesty is given once the peace process is done and there is an end to hostilities, not the other way around.) —VAL/VBL, GMA Integrated News