The Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division in the Visayas on Monday, Nov. 27, expressed its full support for the decision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to grant amnesty to members of rebel groups.
Marcos has granted amnesty to former New People’s Army rebels and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front and Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade.
Marcos issued Proclamations 403, 404, 405, and 406 on Nov. 22 for the granting of the amnesty to rebels and insurgents to encourage them to return to the fold of the law, as part of the administration’s comprehensive peace initiatives.
The 3ID believes these proclamations will further boost the government’s comprehensive peace agenda and its campaign to end local communist armed conflict in Western and Central Visayas, its press release said.
“By availing themselves of the amnesty, former rebels and insurgents will have a second chance at life as they will have more opportunities and greater access to various socio-economic services and psycho-social interventions for their eventual reintegration to the mainstream society,” it said.
Maj. Gen. Marion R. Sison, 3ID commander, said he is confident that the amnesty given to former rebels and insurgents is very timely.
“As the Communist terrorist group is already on the verge of collapse, the amnesty will serve as a major deciding factor to convince more of its members to abandon its futile and senseless armed struggle,” he said.
“It will also significantly hasten the strategic defeat of the CTG, as more of its remaining active members and supporters will return to the fold of the law to avail themselves of this privilege”, he added.
“This is high time for you to reunite with your family and loved ones. Come down and avail of the amnesty program. Make that decision now and you will reap a peaceful and meaningful future ahead of you,” Sison said.
Amnesty is granted to rebels who committed crimes whether punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special penal laws, including but not limited to rebellion or insurrection, conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion or insurrection, disloyalty of public officers or employees, and inciting to rebellion or insurrection.
Other offenses include sedition, conspiracy to commit sedition, and inciting to sedition, illegal assembly, illegal association, direct assault, indirect assault, resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or the agents of such person, tumults and other disturbances of public order, unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances, and alarms and scandals.
Also covered are illegal possession of firearms, ammunition or explosives, provided that these crimes or offense were committed in furtherance of, incident to, or in connection with the crimes of rebellion or insurrection, and those charged, detained or convicted of common crimes but who can establish by substantial evidence that they have actually committed said crimes in pursuit of political beliefs.
The proclamations, however, shall not cover kidnap for ransom, massacre, rape, terrorism, crimes committed against chastity as defined in the Revised Penal Code, crimes committed for personal ends, violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, grave violations of the Geneva Convention of 1949, genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, enforced disappearances, and other gross violations of human rights.
Any rebel who has committed any act or omission in pursuit of political belief, including those detained, charged, or convicted for such acts or omissions, may file an application for amnesty, provided that the crime for which it may be granted must have been committed prior to the issuance of the proclamations.
A person who has already been granted amnesty under previous amnesty proclamations will no longer qualify to apply.
An applicant must admit guilt of the offense for which he is criminally liable and turn over whatever firearms, weapons, and/or explosives in his possession upon application for amnesty.
The filing of an application shall not ipso facto (by the fact itself) result in a grant of amnesty, according to the proclamations.
“Applicants who are found qualified, upon due deliberation of the commission created for this purpose and approved by the President, shall be issued the corresponding Certificate of Amnesty,” the proclamations read.*with a report from PNA