FORMER president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has filed a bill that would grant amnesty to the members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and National Democratic Front and other individuals and groups involved in past political conflicts.
In House Bill 490, Arroyo stressed that granting amnesty to the country’s political prisoners would be significant to the Duterte administration’s peace and reconciliation efforts.
“Accepting the rebels back into the folds of the law through amnesty, and eventually providing them access to the government’s existing socio-economic services, are essential to attaining peace and reconciliation in the country,” Arroyo said in the bill’s explanatory note.
She made her statement even as some senators urged the NPA, the CPP’s military arm, to immediately implement a ceasefire after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Armed Forces to stop all military operations against the communist rebels.
Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said the communist leadership should enforce a ceasefire to eradicate doubts on the part of the government that it is the only one observing a ceasefire.
Senator Leila de Lima said Duterte’s order for a ceasefire showed his sincerity to put an end to the conflict between the government and the NPA.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian welcomed Duterte’s unilateral declaration of a ceasefire and expressed hope it will lead to lasting peace.
Arroyo says “an amnesty program is an integral component of the Duterte government’s comprehensive peace efforts.”
She says she is hopeful the House leadership under Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez will speed up the passage of her measure.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, the chief government negotiator, earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte was committed to release several political prisoners even before he signed a general amnesty.
Human rights group Karapatan has at least 543 political prisoners detained all over the country, including 18 NDF consultants.
Of the total number of political prisoners, 88 were ill while 48 others were senior citizens, the Karapatan said.
Under Arroyo’s proposal, an amnesty will cover the crime of rebellion and all other crimes in pursuit of political beliefs as defined by jurisprudence, or where the individual or group was accused because of political conflict, whether punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special laws.
“Provided, that the amnesty granted under this Act shall not cover the crime against chastity, rape, torture, kidnapping for ransom, use and trafficking of illegal drugs and violations of international law or convention and protocols, even if alleged to have committed in pursuit of political beliefs or if the individual or group was accused because of political conflict,” Arroyo’s bill says.