SONA 2023: Amnesty for former rebels
>> Saturday, August 19, 2023
PEACE INITIATIVES
Stephanie M. Florida
To ensure the holistic transformation of
former combatants, the President emphasized the need of granting amnesty during
his State of the Nation (SONA) address.
"For almost half a century, some of our fellow Filipinos have taken to arms to make their views known and felt. We are now at a point in our history when their armed struggle has evolved. We have now progressed together towards peace and development," he said.
"We have incorporated capacity-building and social protection into our reintegration programs to guarantee full decommissioning of former combatants. Through community development and livelihood programs, the Barangay Development and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Programs have been effective in addressing the root cause of conflict in the countryside," he said
"To complete this reintegration process, I will issue a Proclamation granting amnesty to rebel returnees, and I ask Congress to support me in this endeavor," the President vowed.
A new proclamation is needed to extend the application process of the Amnesty program, which lapsed in January this year. The previous proclamations were issued during the time of Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
President Marcos is determined to continue the amnesty process. He earlier appointed the commissioners of the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), namely: Chairperson Atty. Leah Tanodra-Armamento, Comm. Atty. Jamar Kulayan, and Comm. Nasser Marahomsalic.
Presidential Peace Adviser Galvez thanked the President for his unwavering support to the Bangsamoro and for helping former rebels in their transformation process.
"What we have witnessed in today's SONA is President Marcos' genuine sincerity in implementing all the signed peace agreements, and his commitment to bring sustainable peace throughout the country. This is true to his mantra of unity towards national healing and reconciliation," he said.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity is carrying out the Marcos administration's Five-Point Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Agenda. These are:
The 5-Point Peace, Reconciliation and Peace Agenda includes the following: Completion of peace agreements with the MILF and MNLF towards healing and reconciliation in the Bangsamoro;
*Ending of local communist armed conflict by expanding the transformation programs for local conflict peace process;
*Completion and sustainment of the gains of the signed peace agreements with the Rebolusyonaryong Partido Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade-Tabara Paduano Group (RPM-P/RPA/ABB-TPG), and Cordillera Bodong Administration–Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA);
*Enhancement of the resilience for peace of communities and vulnerable groups through social healing and peacebuilding approaches in support of the peace processes; and
*Enhancement of the delivery of Conflict-Sensitive and Peace Promoting-compliant socioeconomic interventons in addressing the key drivers of conflict through convergence and complementation in support of the peace processes..
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., has vowed to continue to support the progress of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and to help former rebels to regain their legal rights through an amnesty program as part of the administration's effort to push forward the country's comprehensive peace process during the President's second State of the Nation Address on Monday."We are proud of the progress that the BARMM has taken. It will be self-governing, it will be progressive, and it will be effective," the President said."But this was only made possible because of the cooperation of all key groups. We talked to the local governments, the royal families, the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Fron)t and the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) were all consulted and represented in this transition phase. The international community has also supported us in this smooth transition. Former adversaries are now partners in peace. Its functions have been defined, and its basic laws are now being written," he said. To recall, less than two months into his administration, President Marcos administered the oath of office to 80 newly and re-appointed members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) last August 12, 2022. This is the first time that the composition of the BTA includes members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), particularly from the group of its founding Chairman Nur Misuari. President Marcos emphasized the great potential of the BARMM, saying that "through the BARMM, we have strengthened the nation’s prospects for finally achieving sustainable progress anchored on a true and lasting peace in Southern Philippines. We will continue to support the progress of the BARMM, apace with our singular vision for all Filipinos."
"For almost half a century, some of our fellow Filipinos have taken to arms to make their views known and felt. We are now at a point in our history when their armed struggle has evolved. We have now progressed together towards peace and development," he said.
"We have incorporated capacity-building and social protection into our reintegration programs to guarantee full decommissioning of former combatants. Through community development and livelihood programs, the Barangay Development and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Programs have been effective in addressing the root cause of conflict in the countryside," he said
"To complete this reintegration process, I will issue a Proclamation granting amnesty to rebel returnees, and I ask Congress to support me in this endeavor," the President vowed.
A new proclamation is needed to extend the application process of the Amnesty program, which lapsed in January this year. The previous proclamations were issued during the time of Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
President Marcos is determined to continue the amnesty process. He earlier appointed the commissioners of the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), namely: Chairperson Atty. Leah Tanodra-Armamento, Comm. Atty. Jamar Kulayan, and Comm. Nasser Marahomsalic.
Presidential Peace Adviser Galvez thanked the President for his unwavering support to the Bangsamoro and for helping former rebels in their transformation process.
"What we have witnessed in today's SONA is President Marcos' genuine sincerity in implementing all the signed peace agreements, and his commitment to bring sustainable peace throughout the country. This is true to his mantra of unity towards national healing and reconciliation," he said.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity is carrying out the Marcos administration's Five-Point Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Agenda. These are:
The 5-Point Peace, Reconciliation and Peace Agenda includes the following: Completion of peace agreements with the MILF and MNLF towards healing and reconciliation in the Bangsamoro;
*Ending of local communist armed conflict by expanding the transformation programs for local conflict peace process;
*Completion and sustainment of the gains of the signed peace agreements with the Rebolusyonaryong Partido Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade-Tabara Paduano Group (RPM-P/RPA/ABB-TPG), and Cordillera Bodong Administration–Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA);
*Enhancement of the resilience for peace of communities and vulnerable groups through social healing and peacebuilding approaches in support of the peace processes; and
*Enhancement of the delivery of Conflict-Sensitive and Peace Promoting-compliant socioeconomic interventons in addressing the key drivers of conflict through convergence and complementation in support of the peace processes..
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., has vowed to continue to support the progress of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and to help former rebels to regain their legal rights through an amnesty program as part of the administration's effort to push forward the country's comprehensive peace process during the President's second State of the Nation Address on Monday."We are proud of the progress that the BARMM has taken. It will be self-governing, it will be progressive, and it will be effective," the President said."But this was only made possible because of the cooperation of all key groups. We talked to the local governments, the royal families, the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Fron)t and the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) were all consulted and represented in this transition phase. The international community has also supported us in this smooth transition. Former adversaries are now partners in peace. Its functions have been defined, and its basic laws are now being written," he said. To recall, less than two months into his administration, President Marcos administered the oath of office to 80 newly and re-appointed members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) last August 12, 2022. This is the first time that the composition of the BTA includes members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), particularly from the group of its founding Chairman Nur Misuari. President Marcos emphasized the great potential of the BARMM, saying that "through the BARMM, we have strengthened the nation’s prospects for finally achieving sustainable progress anchored on a true and lasting peace in Southern Philippines. We will continue to support the progress of the BARMM, apace with our singular vision for all Filipinos."
He said the national government is
expanding its energy resources to include the BARMM.
"The national government has also
partnered with the BARMM in regard to energy exploration and development, and
also its utilization within its territorial jurisdiction. We, therefore, expect
to see renewed investor interest in its promising sites," he said.
On July 6, the President witnessed the
signing of the Intergovernmental Energy Board Circular (EIB) on the Joint Award
of Petroleum Service Contracts and Coal Operating Contracts in the BARMM, which
marks another major milestone in the Bangsamoro peace process.
The IEB Circular operationalizes the
provision in Section 10, Article XIII of Republic Act No. 11054 or the Organic
Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, to jointly grant rights, privileges,
and concessions for the exploration, development, and utilization of uranium
and fossil fuels such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal within the
territorial jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro.
The Circular aims to boost economic
development and draw foreign capital into the region.
The President also highlighted the government's effort in the rehabilitation of Marawi City.
Last week, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo, Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Carlito G. Galvez Jr, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who co-sponsored the Republic Act 11696 or the Marawi Siege Compensations Act of 2022, and other officials witnessed firsthand the applications for compensation claims filed with the Marawi Compensation Board.
The President also highlighted the government's effort in the rehabilitation of Marawi City.
Last week, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo, Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Carlito G. Galvez Jr, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who co-sponsored the Republic Act 11696 or the Marawi Siege Compensations Act of 2022, and other officials witnessed firsthand the applications for compensation claims filed with the Marawi Compensation Board.
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