IRR for amnesty proclamations released

The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) has released the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for amnesty applications. 

The IRR states that individuals seeking amnesty must file their applications with any Local Amnesty Board (LAB), where initial eligibility assessments will be conducted. 

Further, the LAB will forward its recommendations to the NAC, which will then review and pass on its suggestions to President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. for final approval.

The NAC said that in cases where applicants facing arrest warrants wish to submit their applications to the LAB personally, they have the option to request a provisional safe conduct pass from the respective LAB in advance.

The NAC also said that those in detention facilities seeking amnesty would be given assistance from supervisory officers within their detention centers.

Meanwhile, applicants residing abroad may apply for amnesty through the Philippine consulate in their current country of residence.

Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. welcomed the issuance of the IRR for the amnesty proclamations that were officially adopted by the body on March 14, 2024.

“We congratulate the NAC for releasing the IRR for Amnesty Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405, and 406 that were issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. We are very pleased with this development,” Galvez said in a press release. 

“With the issuance of the IRR, former rebels who have turned away from armed struggle and laid down their arms will be able to complete their normalization and transition to mainstream society as peaceful, productive and law-abiding citizens,” he added. 

Galvez emphasized that the former rebels could now be fully transformed following the issuance of IRR.

“Without amnesty, we cannot have a full transformation to former rebels. Transformation is the central part in the implementation of the peace agreement,” Galvez said.

NAC Commissioner Jamar Kulayan told GMA News Online that five former rebels so far have filed an application for amnesty under Marcos’ proclamations.

“As of yesterday, five pa lang (only),” he said in a message.

For this year, Kulayan said the Commission is expecting applications from the following concerned groups:

• 13,000 applications from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
• 10,000 from Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army - National Demo-cratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF)
• 2,000 from Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB)
• 1,500 Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process said that crimes covered by the amnesty proclamations include 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; 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.

On the other hand, it said that crimes not covered by the amnesty proclamations include kidnap for random; massacre; rape; other crimes committed against chastity as defined in the Revised Penal Code as amended; crimes committed for personal ends; violation of Republic Act No. 9165; grave violations of the Geneva Convention of 1949; and those crimes identified by the United Nations that can never be amnestied. —Anna Felicia Bajo with Joviland Rita/ VAL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News