IRR for amnesty to ex-rebels awaiting signatures

The government has yet to release the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the amnesty proclamations for former rebels as the document still lacks the signatures of concerned Cabinet officials.

The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) said it is still awaiting the signatures of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr.

“Adopted na natin iyong IRR by the majority members of the commission. Ang hinihintay na lang po natin, iyong signature ni Secretary Abalos, nasa kanya ngayon iyong ating IRR. After him, si Secretary Teodoro na naman ang hihintayin nating pipirma bago po namin i-publish, pero adopted na po namin,” NAC chairperson Leah Armamento said.

“Noong narinig namin iyong sinabi ni Presidente, biglang nataranta kami, kasi kailangan na naming habulin iyong mga qualified applicants for amnesty. Sa ngayon, wala pa pong nag-a-apply pero they are requesting for a dialogue, like the CPP-NPA-NDF, the former rebels are requesting for dialogue with the NAC because they wanted to understand the process and who are qualified,” she added during the Bagong PIlipinas Ngayon briefing.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) want to see the official IRR before they apply, Armamento also said.

The amnesty proclamations issued by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and adopted by Congress covers the MILF; MNLF; Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade; and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

MILF Peace Implementing Panel chairperson Mohagher Iqbal earlier called on the Marcos, Jr. administration to grant a general amnesty to former MILF combatants so they can file their certificate of candidacy for elective posts in October for the first-ever Bangsamoro Parliament polls in May 2025. 

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) marked the 10th anniversary of the signing of the peace deal between the government and the MILF named Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro last March 27.

“Dapat, general amnesty on or before October this year. Kung kami po ang tatanungin, mas maganda general amnesty proclamation kasi otherwise, matagal na proseso po ‘yang grant of amnesty. In general amnesty, there will be less documentary requirements,” Iqbal, who also serves as BARMM’s Education Minister, earlier told The Mangahas Interviews.

“We submitted a list of around 700 people, but that is an initial list because the Senate resolution [on granting amnesty] was only adopted less than a month ago. Hindi pa talaga naumpisahan nang masinsinan ang listahan. If their amnesty won’t be processed in time, then they cannot file a certificate of candidacy for the 2025 polls. That would disenfranchise the MILF,” Iqbal added.

Last March 4, the Senate adopted House Concurrent Resolutions No. 19, 20, 21, and 22, which are aligned with Presidential Proclamations 403, 404, 405, and 406, granting amnesty to the members of said groups.

The House adopted the amnesty proclamations in December 2023. 

GMA News Online has reached out to Teodoro and Abalos for comment and will publish them as soon as available.—LDF, GMA Integrated News