MANILA, Philippines – Pinagtibay ng Senado ang isang resolusyon na magbibigay ng amnestiya sa ilang dating miyembro ng Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
Walang tumutol na pinagtibay ng Senado ang House Concurrent Resolution No. 20, na sumasang-ayon sa Presidential Proclamation No. 404, na may botong 23-0-0.
Nagpahayag ng buong suporta si Senador Francis Tolentino na kanyang sinusuportahan ang resolusyon pero mabibigay ng hiwalay na paliwanag sa kanyang boto.
Ayon kay Senador Jinggoy Estrada, isponsor ng panukala na binigyan ng amnestiya ang rebelde na nakagawa ng krimen sa pagsusulong ng kanilang paniniwalang pulitikal.
Pananatilihin ng amnestiya ang karapatang pulitikal at sibil ng mga rebelde na nawala nang mahatulan sa kanilang krimen.
Ngunit, nilinaw naman sa resolusyon na hindi kasama dito ang kaso na isinampa sa kanila sa ilalim ng Human Security Act of 2007 at ang Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Kabilang sa krimen na nagawa ng dating rebelde na hindi kasama sa amnestiya ay 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, kabilang ang genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, enforced disappearances, at iba pang gross violations ng human rights.
Nanawagan din ang senador sa Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), National Amnesty Commission (NAC), Department of Justice (DOJ), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of National Defense (DND) at 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,” aniya.
Noong nakaraang linggo, pinagtibay din ng Senado ang tatlong House of Representatives concurrent resolutions na inaprubahan ang presidential proclamations na nagbibigay ng amnestiya sa dating miyembro ng Rebolusyong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolution Proletarian Army/ Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), at Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Ernie Reyes
