House leaders vow to act fast on amnesty resolutions for former rebels

LEADERS of the House of Representatives have filed a resolution calling for swift congressional action on granting amnesty to former rebels. In a statement Sunday, House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said he, along with House Minority Leader Joseph Stephen S. Paduano, and House Speaker Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco filed House Concurrent Resolutions 12, 13, 14, and 15 that called for an immediate review and decision on the proposed amnesty coverage for specific members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front, Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade, and the Communist Terrorist Group that includes the New People’s Army. “We commit that the House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, will work towards the timely adoption of these amnesty resolutions in line with the government’s peace program,” Mr. Romualdez said. President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued Proclamation Nos. 1090, 1091, 1092, and 1093 in early February, which grant amnesty to members of the rebel groups who committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and special penal laws in line with their political beliefs. A list of those who will be covered by the amnesty program are subject to congressional concurrence. An Amnesty Commission will be formed to handle the final review of the amnesty applications. —

OPAPP MEMBERS of the Joint Peace and Security Team — composed of the military, police, and the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces — attend the inauguration of their newly-renovated facility in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on Mar. 2 as part of peacekeeping efforts in the Bangsamoro region.