Senate adopts House reso granting amnesty to ex-communist rebels

The Senate on Wednesday adopted a resolution granting amnesty to former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

The chamber unanimously adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 20, which concurs with Presidential Proclamation No. 404, with 23-0-0 votes.

Senator Francis Tolentino manifested that he supports the measure but will provide an extended explanation on his vote.

Senator Imee Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. who issued the proclamation granting amnesty to former communist rebels, said she "concur(s) with grave reservations."

According to Senator Jinggoy Estrada, sponsor of the measure, the amnesty is granted to rebels who have committed crimes in pursuit of their political beliefs. This will restore their civil and political rights which they lost or have been suspended due to criminal conviction.

However, he stressed that this will not apply to those who were already proscribed or those charged under the Human Security Act of 2007 and the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

Other crimes committed by the ex-rebels that are excluded from the amnesty are kidnap for ransom, massacre, rape, terrorism, crimes committed against chastity, crimes committed for personal ends, violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, grave violations of the Geneva Convention of 1949, as well as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, enforced disappearances, and other gross violations of human rights.

Estrada also called on the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), Department of Justice (DOJ), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of National Defense (DND) and Philippine National Police (PNP) "to not let the amnesty measures remain just a...mere policy."

“Let’s all make sure that this amnesty program, together with the amnesty programs for the MILF, MNLF, and RPMP-RPA-ABB which were earlier approved by Congress, will be implemented fully and faithfully towards its objective of transforming lives and communities, encouraging former rebels and combatants to return to the folds of the law and to participate in nation-building within the framework of peaceful and deliberative society,” he added.

Last week, the Senate adopted three House of Representatives concurrent resolutions approving presidential proclamations which grant amnesty to former members of Rebolusyong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolution Proletarian Army/ Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). — BM, GMA Integrated News