Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said on Monday that he supported President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call for amnesty for ex-rebels, saying it would greatly help direct resources toward external defense.
“This is for those who want to return to the fold of the law, [also] for the bonafide members of the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front),” Teodoro said.
“The President will draft the proclamation for those qualified so we can focus on external defense,” Teodoro added.
Teodoro, however, maintained that the offer of amnesty was not a replacement or opening for the peace process between the government and the communists.
“There are no peace talks. This [amnesty] is separate from that. If they don’t want to avail of the amnesty during the amnesty period, it will be a different story altogether,” Teodoro said.
Former police general turned Antipolo lawmaker Romeo Acop also supported the President’s call for amnesty for ex-rebels.
“When the President has spoken, it is the policy. Bakit ka kokontra kung kasama ka sa gobyerno? I am in favor,” Acop said.
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim, who also serves as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman, was also on board with the President’s call for amnesty for ex-rebels.
“We are in favor of that because we want to complete the implementation of the peace process. It is part of what we agreed upon: a declaration of amnesty. I hope it will be fast-tracked,” said Ebrahim, whose MILF group already entered into a peace agreement with the government in 2014.
“The process has been started, certain groups have been working on it, and we just want it to be fast-tracked. In support of the statements of the President, we hope Congress will speed [it] up,” Ebrahim added.
The amnesty for the ex-rebels would need congressional concurrence. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
