The Macapagal-Arroyo government is in the process of finalizing an amnesty proclamation for communist rebels which will have to be approved by Congress.
And to show the government’s sincerity in granting amnesty to rebels, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the release of an initial P500 million for the processing of amnesty applications and as seed capital for livelihood projects of communist rebels who return to the folds of the law.
The Chief Executive disclosed the setting up of the rebel-returnees fund during the National Security Council-Cabinet Group (NSC-CG) meeting early this month in Malacañang.
To ensure the program’s success, the President said the government will seek the assistance of local and religious leaders.
National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said the proposed amnesty proclamation is limited to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front and their “derivatives.”
Gonzales said the amnesty grant is also the government’s response to local officials who have been saying that many communist rebels in their respective localities want to go back to the fold of the law.
He cited the recent peace and order summits in Cagayan de Oro and Bohol, during which local officials made known this sentiment of communist rebels in their areas.
The amnesty proclamation will need the concurrence of both the Senate and House of Representatives before it can be implemented, Gonzales said.
President Arroyo said peace initiatives should go hand in hand with the reforms in the economy to instill law and order and attract more foreign investors. (PIA 5)
