Various government agencies, officials and former rebels have thrown their support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent executive order and proclamations granting amnesty to various rebels and insurgent groups in the country, citing their importance to peace and national reconciliation.

In a statement on Tuesday during the joint meeting of the House Committee on Justice and the Committee on National Defense and Security, Justice Assistant Secretary Majken Anika Gran-Ong said that the proclamations are a significant step towards achieving lasting peace and the Department of Justice is prepared to work closely with the National Amnesty Commission in processing applications for amnesty under the new proclamations.

“These proclamations grant amnesty to these groups for crimes committed in (inaudible) of their political beliefs, thereby encouraging them to reintegrate into society and contribute positively to the nation’s progress,” she said, adding that the DOJ will work tirelessly to ensure that the amnesty process is fair, transparent, and respectful of the rights of all parties involved.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also reiterated its support for the Presidential proclamations on the grant of amnesty.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines supports and welcomes the grant of amnesty to members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, National Democratic Front, Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas, Revolutionary Proletarian Army, the Alex Boncayao Brigade, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF),” AFP Captain Norsal Dimaporo said of the military’s position.

“We believe that this is a significant step towards ending all armed conflicts in the country and delivering just and lasting peace in our communities. Granting amnesty brings closure to hostilities and this is in line with the government’s call for peace, unity and reconciliation and push forward for lasting amity among Filipinos.”

The AFP is confident, Dimaporo said, that the administration’s grant of amnesty will promote an atmosphere of conducive to the attainment of a just, comprehensive and enduring equanimity as we collectively address other pressing challenges to the country.

Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the granting amnesty is an integral part of the comprehensive peace process and the path towards normalization that would allow these former rebels not only to fully reintegrate themselves into mainstream society but also to enable them to rebuild their lives and ensure a better future for themselves and their families.

“And so we humbly call on our highly esteemed members of Congress to please support the Marcos administration, peace and reconciliation and unity agenda by ensuring the passage of House Concurrent Resolution Numbers 19, 20, 21 and 22,” Galvez told the lawmakers.

“We strongly believed that the government will be able to push forward, building and sustaining the gains of peace throughout our nation. The grant of amnesty is a clear and strong manifestation of the President, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s, step at commitment to realize the national reconciliation and unity among our people,” he said.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) also supported the President’s amnesty proclamation, an agency representative said, adding that the initiative is important to prop up development especially in the countryside.

“At sana po ay maging senyales po ito sa Kongreso na bigyan po natin ng full support ito pong peace agenda po ng ating Pangulo. Alam naman po ninyong lahat na ang nakikinabang po rito ay ang ating komunidad,” the representative said.

“Bilang official ng Department of Interior Local Government, ramdam po namin na ang kapayapaan po sa komunidad ay malaking bagay po para po magkaroon po ng development ang ating mga communities na matagal na po nating lahat na pangarap na magkaroon ng full development.”

In his opening statement during the hearing, Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano said that the current peace effort between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) should be supported and must be known to the public.

According to Paduano, granting amnesty to rebels is the last government commitment to restore the political and civil rights of rebel combatants and political cadres.

“This is an effort for peace, unity and progress and I myself as a product of the peace agreement being now a congressman in my last term,” he said.

“I hope in my last term this Presidential Proclamation granting amnesty for those four groups will be approved by this House or adopted by this House and concurred in by the Senate and hopefully after Christmas we will start the implementation of this amnesty proclamation of course through the National Amnesty Commission.”

Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. expressed the National Security Council’s (NSC) concurrence to the House Concurrent Resolution Numbers 19, 20 and 21 in relation to the President’s Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405 and 406.

“This concurrence, Your Honors, is the commitment of support of the National Security Council for the successful implementation of the amnesty proclamations in order to attain lasting peace and sustainable inclusive development,” said Torres, who is also the executive director of the NTF-ELCAC.

The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) also conveyed its utmost support and cooperation with House Concurrent Resolutions, extending amnesty to rebels.

“As stated in the Proclamations and House Concurrent Resolutions granting amnesty to these organizations, we believe that it will pave the way for the beneficiaries to reintegrate into the society and resolve the armed conflict,” NICA Assistant Director Manuel Orduña said during the congressional hearing.

Retired Colonel Ariel Querubin also gave his support for the President’s amnesty proclamations for communists and Muslim separatists, saying that an amnesty gave him a second chance.

“I am with the President in his aspiration really that our country should be united… we should be, you know, we have differences ‘no but we should unite for us to progress,” he said in his opening statement during the congressional hearing.

He added that, “being an activist, I really agree with my—because they’re all my friends now, that for as long as, you know, sad to say that they are no longer ideologues but they thrived on issues – issues such as corruption, unemployment, poverty, police brutality, military abuses… insurgency will persist.”

“So, you know, all these talks and everything… as I’ve been saying, it can only be achieved probably if, on the part of the government also, it should shape up, meaning, address all the root causes. Because I really believe in what I’ve been through,” Querubin added that the best antidote to insurgency, violent extremism and even terrorism is good governance aided by a well-disciplined military and police. PND