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Saturday, December 20, 2003
Glo's allies defend general amnesty bill
MANILA -- Congressmen supporting President Arroyo's proposed amnesty bill said Friday presidential aspirant Raul Roco has no basis in threatening Arroyo of impeachment if the bill is passed.
Arroyo also shrugged off allegations that her amnesty proposal for deposed president Joseph Estrada and former first lady Imelda Marcos was a political strategy to push her presidential bid next year.
According to Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles the power to make laws lie in the hands of Congress and not the President. He said Roco might have forgotten this.
He said Congress also has the power to define the National Healing and Reconciliation Commission and who would be given amnesty.
The legislator said there is nothing illegal with the President's policy statement on reconciliation with political rivals.
"Roco must have forgotten that what the President can only give is presidential pardon for those who have transgressed the law," he said.
Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay said Roco should stop politicking and instead help in healing the wounds of the country and leave to Congress the job of deciding whether there should be general amnesty.
"Those resisting the proposed measure do not help in achieving peace and unity in the country," he said.
Pichay urged Roco not to engage in politicking and to lay down proposals on how to heal the wounds of the country.
He said the President knows Congress has sole power to give amnesty.
President Arroyo said her proposal has nothing to do with politics. "I would like to spare this from politics because this is a sincere and earnest effort to transform our divisions into unity and, thereby, see a clear path to a brighter future," she added.
She said the country has had enough of political bickering and it is time to put aside the "bitter memories of the past" for the country to move forward.
Not covered
Meanwhile, Justice Sec. Simeon Datumanong said Estrada and the killer of American Military Adviser James Rowe cannot be covered by the proposed amnesty program of President Arroyo.
Datumanong said the law on economic plunder, under which Estrada has been indicted, is not covered.
"Plunder is not a political offense," Datumanong said Friday. He said Rowe's case is "a sensitive issue which should be handled delicately."
Rowe, who was a member of the Joint US Military Assistance Group (Jusmag), was gunned down in broad daylight in Manila in the 80s while being driven around by a Filipino chauffer in an unmarked civilian vehicle.
Amnesty can only be granted to those charged with political offenses.
However, Dutamanong said he supports the proposal, adding that it is within the power of the President to grant general amnesty to political prisoners. Benjamin Pulta/JPM/PNA
(December 20, 2003 issue)
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