Galvez eyes dismissal of inactive cases of former rebels

Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday said the government will work on the dismissal of inactive cases against former rebels ahead of their amnesty.

During a press briefing of the government’s anti-insurgency task force NTF-ELCAC, Galvez said there are nearly 30,000 surrendered members who were affiliated with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Some of them are facing cases, according to Galvez.

"Ang gagawin nating proseso, yun nga, ang napag-usapan ng National Amnesty Commission, na while they are waiting for the amnesty i-proprocess namin yung kaso,” Galvez said.

(As we discussed with the National Amnesty Commission, we will process their cases while they are waiting for the amnesty.)

“Yung mga kaso na nakita natin na walang ebidensya tsaka hindi siya talaga active puwede po nating ipa-dismiss yan sa proseso ng legal,” he added.

(The cases that lack evidence and are really inactive will be dismissed through a legal process.)

Aside from this, Galvez said they are also planning to issue “safe conduct pass” to individuals who are in the process of applying for amnesty.

During his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he will issue a Presidential Proclamation granting amnesty to rebel returnees.

“To guarantee full decommissioning of combatants, we have provided community development, livelihood assistance in our reintegration process,”  Marcos said.

“To complement this, I will issue a proclamation granting amnesty to rebel returnees, and I ask Congress to support me in this endeavor,” he added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News