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Thursday, December 18, 2003
Glo says amnesty bill part of reconciliation bid
MANILA -- President Arroyo wants Congress to come up with a bill that would empower her to grant amnesty to leftist and rightist rebels, including misguided elements of the military, involved in various conflicts with the government.
Under the proposed bill, the new amnesty commission would determine groups and identify specific personalities who should be given pardon, whether they are perceived political opponents or rebel members.
Arroyo, in an interview after the covenant-signing between the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats and the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), said she is planning to issue a proclamation, which could later be transmitted to Congress for confirmation.
Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Chief Gabriel Claduio said a draft has already been prepared, which specifies the creation of the commission that would be "tasked to determine who can be given amnesty."
The commission would be named National Healing and Reconciliation Commission, which would "shift the adversarial and antagonistic nature of judicial and extra-judicial proceedings to a more conciliatory and compromising mode to make effective the government's efforts of wealth recovery and bring together different political groups and pave the way for a comprehensive peace and reconciliation agenda."
Aside from identifying beneficiaries of the amnesty and in facilitating its grant, the commission would also "provide formal and informal mechanisms for the resolution of disputes, to include mediation, arbitration, just compromise and any procedure provided for by customary law and practice, where appropriate, to facilitate reconciliation and redress for victims."
Arroyo said she would urge Congress to create a commission that would handle "general amnesty" and certify the bill as urgent once it is filed.
She said the National Amnesty Commission, which focuses on returning rebels, would be integrated in the new commission that she proposed.
She declined to specify names or personalities who could benefit from the "general amnesty", saying it's the job of the new commission to identify them.
When asked if the Marcoses, whose ill-gotten wealth is the subject of court litigation, could avail of amnesty, she said "the Marcoses can avail of it, if the commission sees it fit."
When asked if the amnesty would also apply to former president Joseph Estrada, who is facing plunder charges, she said "bahala na ang commission (it is up to the commission)."
She said the general amnesty measure would effectively "put our past national divisions behind us."
(December 18, 2003 issue)
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