House’s Makabayan bloc seeks amnesty for NPA guerrillas, supporters

From the Business Mirror (Aug 17): House’s Makabayan bloc seeks amnesty for NPA guerrillas, supporters

THE Makabayan Bloc is asking the House of Representatives to urge President Duterte to grant a general, unconditional and omnibus amnesty to all citizens charged and convicted of crimes in relation to the insurgency waged by the New People’s Army (NPA).

In House Resolution 198, seven lawmakers said such amnesty should also cover acts committed in conjunction with the pursuit of their political beliefs.

The resolution was introduced by Party-list Reps. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate of Bayan Muna, Antonio L. Tinio and France L. Castro of ACT Teachers; Emmi A. de Jesus and Arlene D. Brosas of Gabriela; Ariel B. Casilao of Anakpawis and Sarah Jane I. Elago of Kabataan.

In seeking the grant of a general amnesty, the lawmakers said Section 19, Article VII of the Constitution expressly provides that the President shall have the power to “grant amnesty with the concurrence of the majority of all the members of Congress.”

They stressed that many Filipinos have been arrested, imprisoned, charged or convicted for acts or omissions punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special laws in connection with the rebellion waged by the NPA or for other crimes in pursuit of their political beliefs.

“Presently, the human-rights group Karapatan recorded a total of 519 political prisoners, 42 of whom are women, 125 have illnesses of varying degrees, 40 are elderly, nine are couples and 129 have been in prison for more than 10 years,” they said.

Karapatan also reported “that nearly all the charges filed against these political prisoners are fabricated charges of common crimes.”

Twenty-one of these prisoners are peacetalks consultants of the National Democratic Front (NDF) who should have been long freed on the basis of the 1995 Philippine government-NDFP Joint Agreement for Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig).

“There is now an openness and goodwill between the government of President Duterte and the NDF for the resumption of the long-stalled peace process to tackle the root causes of the nearly five-decade old armed conflict in our country… In order to promote an atmosphere conducive to the attainment of a just, comprehensive and enduring peace, and, in line with the peace and reconciliation initiatives of President Duterte, there is a compelling need to declare a general, unconditional and omnibus amnesty in favor of Filipinos who have been arrested, jailed, charged and/or convicted for acts or omissions punishable under RPC and/or special laws in connection with the rebellion waged by the NPA or for other crimes in pursuit of one political belief related to its activities,” they added.

“The proposed amnesty, which excludes those crimes against chastity and rape, should restore to the grantees their civil and political rights suspended or lost adversely by virtue of any executive, administrative or criminal action or proceedings against the grantee,” the Makabayan lawmakers added.

They explained the proposed amnesty is necessary for the general interest of the Philippines and the Filipino people for a just and lasting peace.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/2016/08/17/houses-makabayan-bloc-seeks-amnesty-for-npa-guerrillas-supporters/