Rebels granted amnesty will still be prosecuted for heinous crimes -- DOJ
Rebels and insurgent group members who have been granted amnesty for crimes in furtherance of their political beliefs will still be prosecuted for heinous crimes they committed, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Wednesday, Nov. 29.
Under Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405, and 406, President Marcos granted amnesty to members of Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
In a statement, the DOJ said it fully supports the decision of the President to grant amnesty to members of various rebel and insurgent groups.
“We believe that this historic move by President Marcos will usher in a new era of peace and reconciliation in the Philippines, and the DOJ is committed to supporting this initiative,” it said.
“However, it is important to note that these proclamations do not extend to heinous crimes such as kidnap for ransom, massacre, rape, terrorism, and other gross violations of human rights,” the DOJ pointed out.
“The DOJ will continue to enforce the law and ensure justice for the victims of these heinous crimes,” it declared.
“We will work tirelessly to ensure that the amnesty process is fair, transparent, and respectful of the rights of all parties involved,” it assured.
It also said the DOJ is prepared to work closely with the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) in processing the applications for amnesty under the new proclamations.