• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An amnesty has been granted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to former members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA-ABB).
Under Proclamation 403, Marcos granted amnesty to the members of the breakaway rebel group who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and special penal laws, specifically those committed crimes in pursuit of their political beliefs, whether punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special penal laws.
The RPM-P/RPA-ABB entered into a peace agreement with the government in year 2000, but only the Tabara-Paduano Group continued with the peace process and has adopted the institutional name Kapatiran.
Sixty-four of its members and dependents have been integrated into the Armed Forces of the Philippines as CAFGU Active Auxiliary, as part of the peace agreement.
They have been tasked to protect their resettlement areas in Negros Island, which were previously subjected to attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA), who also assassinated several of their former leaders and members.
Marcos also issued Proclamation 404 granting amnesty to the former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) or their front organizations who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and special penal laws in furtherance of their political beliefs.
The amnesty proclamations were aimed at encouraging rebels and insurgents to return to the fold of law, as part of the administration’s comprehensive peace initiatives.
Amnesty is granted to rebels who committed crimes whether punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special penal laws, including but not limited to rebellion or insurrection; conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion or insurrection; disloyalty of public officers or employees; and inciting to rebellion or insurrection. | GB
