Members of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte the granting of amnesty decades after they launched coup attempts in the first Aquino administration, Malacañang said Friday.
“They likewise asked the President for amnesty so that they could receive their back pay and livelihood opportunities for the members of the RAM,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella told reporters in a Palace news briefing.
While Abella said he was not privy if Duterte plans to grant their amnesty request, he said that the President’s willingness to meet with RAM shows he views the group in a “positive” light.
“I believe he [Duterte] viewed it positively. I don't know the exact action that he will take but the fact that he met with them shows that he is quite open to their requests,” Abella said.
Military spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said some of RAM members needed to be granted amnesty in order to receive their gratuities due to their “advanced age.”
“They want amnesty to get their gratuities, benefits. So being of advanced age, of course, many of them will have requirements for health and support for their medicines,” he added.
On Wednesday, the President met with Senator Gregorio Honasan and other RAM members including retired Captains Felix Turingan and Glen Agudo; retired Navy commodore Rex Robles; retired Colonels Marcelino Malajacan Jr., Hernando Caraig, and James Joven; Retired Police Director Victor Batac; and Engineer Jegie Pereda.
Members of RAM, who staged a series of unsuccessful military coups against late President Corazon Aquino from 1986 to 1989, were charged with rebellion and arrested but some of them were granted amnesty.