Congress’ go signal required for amnesty offer to take effect

THE National Amnesty Commission (NAC) said it is waiting for the Senate and House of Representatives to concur with the four proclamation orders of President Marcos Jr. before they can start accepting and processing applications for amnesty of rebels and separatist members.

NAC chairwoman Leah Tandora-Armamento, during the “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” program, said many returnees, especially from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), are already waiting for the resumption of the amnesty program.

“Wala pang ma-process, kailangan pa i-concur ng Congress ng House at saka Senate iyung proclamations na pinalabas ni Presidente. Kailangan po iyun mara mag-take effect ang proclamation orders (Nothing has been processed yet. Congress, both the House and the Senate, must first concur with the proclamations issued by the President. This is needed for the proclamation orders to take effect),” Armamento said.

The President, through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, issued Executive Order 47 on November 22, which amended Executive Order No. 125 and updated the NAC’s functions.

Under the order, the amnesty program will start on the same day that Congress concurs with its issuance. The program will be effective for two years.

Armamento said this will give the agency more time to receive and process applications, pointing out that under EO 125, the NAC was only given a year from the issuance of the directive to process the applications for amnesty.

Aside from EO 47, the President also issued Proclamation Numbers 403, 404, 405 and 406 granting amnesty to members of different armed groups.

Proclamation No. 403 grants amnesty to members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB); while Proclamation No. 404 grants amnesty to former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

On the other hand, Proclamation No. 405 grants amnesty to members of the MILF, while Proclamation No. 406 grants amnesty to members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Armamento said amnesty may be granted to those who, prior to the issuance of the