Friday, August 01, 2008 Arroyo seeks anew approval of amnesty for NPA rebels
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday renewed calls for Congress to ratify a proposed amnesty proclamation for communist rebels who sincerely wish to return to the folds of society.
She also reaffirmed her goal of neutralizing the New People's Army (NPA) by 2010.
Arroyo, speaking before the Local Peace and Security Assembly in Tuguegarao City, said the ideological nonsense and criminal activities of the communist rebels should be stopped permanently to enable the country to reach its goal of becoming a modernized and first world country by 2020.
She said the communist rebels had been low-level threat or years now but it is time that "their disruption and violation of human rights to be put to rest so that the nation can move ahead".
"If we are to become a First World country, as you said in your resolution, we have to put a stop to their ideological nonsense and their criminal acts once and for all. Our instruction, our goal is they must be stopped by 2020. That is what we want to do," she said.
"But to the rebels who genuinely and sincerely speak peace, we shall respond in kind, and I hope that the congressmen who are here today will help us pass the amnesty resolution. The most important part of our counter-strategy is the soft power of economic progress, dialogue and continuing efforts to arrive at mutual understanding," she added.
Arroyo said the government is continuously devising programs to advance peace and development in the country which includes human rights advocacy and a social integration program for rebels.
"It is no longer necessary to lose lives on both sides of the conflict when so many opportunities are now available to improve the people's welfare," she added.
The President signed a new Amnesty Proclamation No. 1377 on September 6, 2007, which Congress has yet to ratify to make it effective.
Under the proclamation, amnesty will cover rebellion and all other crimes "in pursuit of political beliefs."
Crimes against chastity, rape, torture, kidnapping for ransom, the use and trafficking of illegal drugs, and other crimes committed for personal ends and violations of international law or conventions and protocols, "even if alleged to have been committed in pursuit of political beliefs," are however not included.
Those who might file for amnesty, include those that have committed the crime on or before the proclamation was made effective.
Those who have already been granted amnesty under previous amnesty proclamations are no longer qualified.
Arroyo during the event also received a resolution from the multi-sectoral stakeholders in the Cagayan Valley Region asking concerned agencies of the national and local governments to hasten the implementation of all measures needed "to strengthen and defend our region against all forms of aggression." (JMR/Sunnex)
