MILF lauds Senate for adopting House rebel amnesty resolutions

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews) – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) lauded the Senate for adopting three resolutions of the House of Representatives that concur with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s grant of amnesty to former rebels.

Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, also the MILF chair, said the granting of amnesty for MILF members is contained in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which the Philippine government and the MILF signed in March 2014 after 17 years of peace negotiations.

“We are thankful and happy. Hopefully they could soon establish an office that will start the amnesty process,” Ebrahim said.

Pending the start of the formal amnesty process, he suggested the issuance of a certification for those covered by the amnesty for them to avoid getting arrested.

Murad stressed the

Senate’s move is a big relief for MILF members facing charges in pursuit of their political beliefs who wanted to participate in the first Bangsamoro parliamentary election, which will be held simultaneously with the midterm national and local elections in May 2025.

Last February 17, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the MILF’s political party, held its first general assembly in Cotabato, with Ebrahim then saying the event “signals the start of their preparation for the party to win parliamentary seats in next year’s regional election.”

He said the grant of amnesty would ease their worries of getting arrested.

Many of the leaders and members of MILF have pending cases related to their political beliefs. Those given safe conduct passes, however, freely roam the country without the threats of an arrest.

Last Monday, the Senate adopted three concurrent resolutions favoring Marcos’ grant of amnesty to various insurgent groups in the country, three months after Presidential Proclamations (PP) 403, 405 and 406 were issued last November.

With 19 in favor, no abstention and zero no vote, the Upper House adopted House Concurrent Resolutions (HCR) No. 19, 21, and 22, which concur with PP 403, 405, and 406 respectively.

HCR 19 grants amnesty to former members of the Rebolusyong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolution