MANILA, Philippines – SUPORTADO ni Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. ang panawagan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. para sa amnestiya para sa mga dating rebelde, makatutulong ito sa ‘direct resources’ tungo sa external defense.
“This is for those who want to return to the fold of the law, [also] for the bonafide members of the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front),” ayon kay Teodoro.
“The President will draft the proclamation for those qualified so we can focus on external defense,” dagdag na wika ng Kalihim.
Gayunman, iginiit ni Teodoro na ang alok na amnestiya ay hindi kapalit o pagbubukas ng peace process sa pagitan ng pamahalaan at mga komunista.
“There are no peace talks. This [amnesty] is separate from that. If they don’t want to avail of the amnesty during the amnesty period, it will be a different story altogether,” ayon kay Teodoro.
Maliban kay Teodoro, suportado rin ni dating police general at ngayon ay Antipolo representative Romeo Acop ang panawagan na amnestiya ng Pangulo para sa mga dating rebelde.
“When the President has spoken, it is the policy. Bakit ka kokontra kung kasama ka sa gobyerno? I am in favor,” ayon kay Acop.
Nagpahayag din ng kanyang pagsuporta si Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim, nagsisilbi ring chairman ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) para sa panawagan na amenstiya para sa mga dating rebelde.
“We are in favor of that because we want to complete the implementation of the peace process. It is part of what we agreed upon: a declaration of amnesty. I hope it will be fast-tracked,” ayon kay Ebrahim, na ang MILF group ay pumasok na sa peace agreement sa gobyerno noong 2014.
“The process has been started, certain groups have been working on it, and we just want it to be fast-tracked. In support of the statements of the President, we hope Congress will speed [it] up,” ayon kay Ebrahim.
Ang amnesty para sa mga dating rebelde ay kailangan ng congressional concurrence.
