‘GIVE PEACE A CHANCE’: PCO SAYS PBBM’s AMNESTY PROCLAMATION AIMS TO ENCOURAGE REBELS TO RETURN TO THE FOLDS OF LAW

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — “There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare,” thus said the legendary military genius Sun Tzu and seemingly the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was inspired by this nugget of wisdom as the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced the President’s amnesty proclamation.

On Saturday, the Bangsamoro government quickly acknowledged the “historic move” and expressed its  “genuine gratitude” for Marcos Jr.’s  granting amnesty to the members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

“The Bangsamoro Government and the Bangsamoro People express genuine gratitude to the Government of the Philippines for showing unwavering commitment to the Bangsamoro Peace Process and all signed peace agreements with the advancement of these Amnesty Proclamation,” said Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, spokesperson of the Bangsamoro Government Minister.

On Friday, November 24, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said that the following groups have been granted amnesty under Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405 and 406, respectively:

* Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB)

* Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF)

* Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)

* Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

The PCO, headed by lawyer and former journalist Chelov Velicaria-Garafil, said the amnesty is granted to organizations that committed crimes whether punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special penal laws, including but not limited to rebellion or insurrection; conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion or insurrection; disloyalty of public officers or employees; inciting to rebellion or insurrection; sedition; conspiracy to commit sedition; and inciting to sedition.

According to the PCO, the  amnesty was granted by President Marcos Jr. “to encourage them (rebels) to return to the folds of law.”

There was no immediate reaction from the CPP-NPA-NDF which has been waging a “protracted armed struggle” for nearly 55 years now and which was copied from the Chinese revolution led by Mao Zedong.

“This development is a significant milestone in the achievement of meaningful and enduring peace in the Bangsamoro, as this will form part of former combatants’ full transformation towards being productive and peace-loving Filipino citizens,” Sinarimbo noted, speaking on behalf of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

(AI/MNM)