Manila Today
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has granted amnesty to former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), however, human rights group Karapatan said it fails to address the root cause of armed conflict.
In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said former members of CPP-NPA-NDF and the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade have been granted amnesty under Proclamations Nos. 403, 404, 405, and 406.
Former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front have been likewise granted amnesty.
The amnesty, the PCO said, aims to “serves as a bridge toward healing and reintegration for individuals who stood on opposing sides of armed conflict.”
Abolish NTF-ELCAC, repeal ATA
Karapatan noted that the amnesty program lacks adequate protection against civil suits and fails to provide sufficient guarantees on the use of information disclosed by would-be applicants.
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is for its rampant red-tagging, profiling, and threatening activists; hence the rights group echoed for its abolition.
“It must abolish the NTF-ELCAC and rescind Executive Order 70, which have nothing but instruments of repression and are totally inutile in resolving deep-seated roots of armed conflict,” it added.
Karapatan further urged to repeal the ATA following the recent dismissal of terror law cases in Southern Tagalog activists which were made only to threaten, harass, and intimidate.
Last November 22, Office of the City Prosecutor in Laguna dismissed the ATA cases filed by 59th Infantry Battalion against activists Hailey Pecayo John Peter Garcia, Kenneth Rementilla, and Jasmin Rubia. Two days after, peasant organizer Ernesto Baez Jr., Jose Escobio and Jonald Jabonero were also dismissed in relation to the firearms and explosive charges—a somewhat already known narrative of patterns of arrest among activists.
Karapatan likewise called for the release of political prisoners and individuals slapped with trumped-up charges, including those wrongfully charged using ATA.
Call for peace talks resumption
For human rights alliance Karapatan, Marcos’ amnesty programs failed to recognize and address the social, political, and roots of armed conflict in the country.
“Its focus is on surrender, totally ignoring why persons have resorted to taking up arms in the first place. It is a shallow and tangential approach that will guarantee not the end but the continuance of armed conflict,” Karapatan statement read.
Karapatan also pointed out that the would-be amnesty focus on being obliged or forced to admit membership to the CPP, NPA, or NDF, which basically restores Republic Act 1700 or the Ant-Subversion Law.
The Anti-Subversion Law penalizes membership in the CPP, NPA, or NDF as well as criminalizes political activism.
Karapatan added the amnesty program also “excludes those who have been charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the defunct Human Security Act.”
“The amnesty program likewise provides no protection against civil suits and offers limited guarantees as to how information disclosed by the amnesty applicant will be used,” Karapatan stressed.
“It should adhere to previously signed agreements in the government’s peace talks with the NDFP and implement thoroughgoing, comprehensive and substantial economic and political reforms. It should stop its doublespeak on human rights, social justice and just and lasting peace,” Karapatan added.
