Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters raise their firearms in jubilation in Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao province as soon as their leaders signed the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro in Malacanang on Oct. 15, 2012. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front lauded the Senate for adopting three resolutions of the House of Representatives that concur with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s grant of amnesty to former rebels. MindaNews file photo by BONG SARMIENTO
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 7 March) – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front lauded the Senate for adopting three resolutions of the House of Representatives that concur with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s grant of amnesty to former rebels.
Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, also the Moro Islamic Liberation Front chair, said the granting of amnesty for Moro Islamic Liberation Front members is contained in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed in March 2014 after 17 years of peace negotiations.
“We are thankful and happy. Hopefully they could soon establish an office that will start the amnesty process,” Ebrahim said.
Pending the start of the formal amnesty process, he suggested the issuance of a certification for those covered by the amnesty for them to avoid getting arrested.
Murad stressed the Senate’s move is a big relief for Moro Islamic Liberation Front members facing charges in pursuit of their political beliefs who wanted to participate in the first Bangsamoro parliamentary election, which will be held simultaneously with the midterm national and local elections in May 2025.
Last February 17, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s political party, held its first general assembly in Cotabato, with Ebrahim then saying the event “signals the start of their preparation for the party to win parliamentary seats in next year’s regional election.”
He said the grant of amnesty would ease their worries of getting arrested.
Many of the leaders and members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front have pending cases related to their political beliefs. Those given safe conduct passes, however, freely roam the country without the threats of an arrest.
Last Monday, the Senate adopted three concurrent resolutions favoring Marcos’ grant of amnesty to various insurgent groups in the country, three months after Presidential Proclamations (PP) 403, 405 and 406 were issued last November.
With 19 in favor, no abstention and zero no vote, the Upper House adopted House Concurrent Resolutions (HCR) No. 19, 21, and 22, which concur with PP 403, 405, and 406 respectively.
HCR 19 grants amnesty to former members of the Rebolusyong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolution Proletarian Army/ Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), HCR 21 to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and HCR 22 to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Uniity, noted that despite “the strong desire of members of these revolutionary groups to be productive citizens in their communities, the looming threat of legal repercussions limits them to do so.”
“They are torn between their desire to turn a new leaf on one hand, and be held accountable for their political mistakes on the other,” he said.
In a statement, Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. said: “We are fully behind the government’s concerted efforts to advance the reconciliation and healing from the armed conflicts that have divided our nation for far too long.”
National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año said the amnesty proclamations are a “strong indication of the solidarity of the current administration in pursuit for lasting peace and national security.”
The amnesty is granted to former rebels who have committed crimes in pursuit of their political beliefs including but not limited to rebellion or insurrection, sedition, illegal assembly, direct and indirect assault, resistance and disobedience to a person in authority, and illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, or explosives.
However, there are exceptions.
The amnesty shall not cover kidnap for ransom, massacre, rape, terrorism, crimes committed against chastity as defined in the Revised Penal Code, violation of RA No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, grave violations of the Geneva Convention of 1949, and genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, enforced disappearances, and other gross violations of human rights, the Presidential Communications Office said. (Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews)
https://mindanews.com/top-stories/2024/03/moroislamicliberationfront-lauds-senate-for-adopting-house-rebel-amnesty-resolutions/#gsc.tab=0
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