No blanket amnesty for rebels – Galvez

By Franco Jose C. Baroña

THE amnesty proclamations issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. do not give "blanket" amnesty to former rebels and do not remove the grantee's civil liability for injuries or damages caused to private persons, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said.
    He clarified that being a member of a rebel group such as the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) is not enough to qualify for amnesty.
Galvez said an applicant for amnesty must "show remorse and admit to the crimes that they have committed, and in doing so, show that they have completely turned away from a life of violence and armed struggle."
    He added that amnesty is to "extinguish any criminal liability for the acts subject of the amnesty grant, as well as restore all civil and political rights suspended or lost by a criminal conviction."
    The "delicate balancing act" of ensuring the state's obligation to protect and promote human rights on one hand, and its commitment to peace, reconciliation and unity on the other falls on the shoulders of the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), he said.
    "The NAC shall ensure the expeditious but cautious processing of amnesty applications of these former rebels," Galvez said.
    He hailed the recent approval of four concurrent resolutions in the House of Representatives that grant amnesty to former rebels.
    Resolutions 19, 20, 21 and 22 cover members of the CPP-NPA-NDF, the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
    Galvez said the resolutions, which concur with Proclamations 403, 404, 405 and 406 issued by President Marcos last November 24, will enable the government to "push forward, build on, and sustain the gains of peace throughout our nation."
    The adoption of the concurrent resolutions comes on the heels of the joint communiqué signed by the government and the CPP-NPA-NDF in Oslo, Norway, signaling the start of fresh peace talks between the two parties.
    Through the communiqué, the government and the communist group expressed their intention "to end the decades-long armed conflict, armed struggle, and transform the members of the CPP-NPA-NDF."
    "The granting of amnesty is an integral part of the comprehensive peace process. It is a path towards normalization that would allow these former rebels not only to fully reintegrate themselves into mainstream society as peaceful, productive and law-abiding citizens, but more importantly, enable them to rebuild their lives and ensure a better future for themselves and their families," Galvez said.