From the Website of MILF
MILF hails Senate for adopting three (3) House resolutions granting amnesty to rebels
Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao Del Norte-– The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) hailed the adoption by Senate of three resolutions of the House of Representatives that concur with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s grant of amnesty to former rebels.
“The granting of amnesty for MILF members is contained in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which the Philippine government and the MILF signed in March 2014”, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim aka Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, who is also the chairman of the Moro Front.
“We are thankful and happy. Hopefully they could soon establish an office that will start the amnesty process,” Ebrahim said as quoted by Mindanews in its online post Thursday.
He suggested the issuance of a certification for those rebels covered by the amnesty for them to avoid getting arrested.
He said the grant of amnesty would ease their worries of getting arrested, the Mindanews report said.
Many of the leaders and members of MILF have pending cases related to their political beliefs. Those given safe conduct passes, however, freely roam the country without the threats of an arrest, Mindanews also said.
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 MILF, 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.”
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.”
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, 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.
MILF Website
Article links:
BANGSAMORO FRAMEFORK
http://www.opapp.gov.ph/sites/default/files/House%20Bill%20No.%204994.pdf
http://www.opapp.gov.ph/resources/house-bill-no-4994
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