‘Commander Bravo’ seeking gov’t amnesty -OPAPRU

Former Moro rebel Abdullah Macapaar, known as “Commander Bravo” of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), is seeking government amnesty for the political crimes committed when he was leading the separatist movement in Lanao del Norte, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace,  Reconciliation, and Unity said on Saturday.

“[Commander Bravo of Lanao] expressed his intention to apply for amnesty,” said OPAPRU Communications and Public Affairs  Services Director Darwin Wee said at the News Forum.

“Ang amnesty kasi, it obliterates your previous sins, sins na borne out of your political struggle or cause naman… hindi covered iyong mga heinous crime po,” Wee said, noting that Commander Bravo’s amnesty application would undergo a “review process.”

In  November last year, Marcos issued Proclamation Numbers 403, 404, 405,  and 406, series of 2023, which granted amnesty to members of  Rebolusyonaryong Partidong 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) and their front organizations, MILF, and members of the  Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), respectively.

The OPAPRU also disclosed that so far there are a total of 794 former rebels who applied for amnesty.

Most of the said number or 686 were former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF and its front organizations, followed by 59 from the MILF, 47 from the MNLF, and two from the RPMP-RPA-ABB.

The OPAPRU official noted that the government expected about 1,000 to 3,000 applicants for amnesty. — DVM, GMA Integrated News