Duterte creates National Amnesty Commission

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has signed an Executive Order establishing a National Amnesty Commission to evaluate the amnesty applications of individuals facing criminal charges, including rebellion, for endorsement to Congress.

“Pinirmahan po ng ating Pangulo ang isang Executive Order na nagki-create ng National Amnesty Commission,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. said Monday.

“Ang primary task po nito ay tumanggap at magproseso ng mga aplikasyon ng amnestiya at tukuyin ang mga aplikanteng puwedeng mabigyan nito in connection with the recent amnesty proclamations pending concurrence of Congress. Naipadala na po sa Kongreso ang mga amnesty proclamations para sa kanilang concurrence or pagsang-ayon,” he added.

An amnesty absolves one of criminal liabilities and punishment in the event that the beneficiary of the amnesty is already convicted.

“Kaya po kinakailangan din ang concurrence sa Kongreso ito dahil binubura hindi lang iyong pangyayari kung hindi pati po ang parusa. Bagama’t ito po ay isang katungkulan ng Ehekutibo, kinakailangang mag-concur din po ang ating Kongreso,” Roque added.

He said that establishing the commission is a step towards peace.

“Kasama ito sa ating hakbang tungo sa kapayapaan kung saan inalok natin ang kamay ng kapayapaan sa ilang mga grupo para sila po ay bumalik sa normal at payapang buhay,” he pointed out.

Roque said that the National Amnesty Commission will be composed of seven members, including the chairperson and two regular members to be appointed by the President.

Ex-officio members of the commission will include the Justice, Defense, and Interior Secretaries, as well as the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, headed by vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. will also serve as the Secretariat of the Commission.

Misuari’s way to freedom?

Back in December 2019, President Duterte appointed Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari as the Special Economic Envoy on Islamic Affairs to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Almost three years earlier, a Pasig judge ordered the suspension of court proceedings on rebellion charges leveled against Misuari for six months for the holding of peace talks.

Misuari is facing rebellion and violation of international humanitarian law charges for his alleged role in the 20-day Zamboanga City siege in 2013, which resulted in the deaths of over 200 people and the displacement of thousands of others.

During that incident, followers of Misuari and then-MILF commander Umbra Kato violently took over Zamboanga city and used civilians as human shields during the infighting between them and government troops who tried to stop them from causing mayhem. — BM, GMA News