President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. during the first BARMM Local Legislative General Assembly in Davao City on November 14, 2023. (Faisal Camsa/BIO)
COTABATO CITY—Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBMM) signed on Nov. 22, Proclamation Nos. 405 and 406, granting amnesty to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which will make socio-economic assistance accessible to the former combatants.
PBBM’s amnesty is consequential to the full implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro’s (CAB) normalization track, which will reintegrate the freedom fighters into society and have them availed of the government’s socio-economic services.
Bangsamoro Gov’t’s Spokesperson Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo welcomed on Nov. 24 PBBM’s Proclamations, highlighting the importance of amnesty to the lives of the ex-rebels.
“This development is a significant milestone in the achievement of meaningful and enduring peace in the Bangsamoro, as this will form part of former combatants’ full transformation towards being productive and peace-loving Filipino citizens,” he said.
The Minister added, “This will finally free our former combatants and MILF and MNLF command leaders from the shackles of the past that prevent them from genuinely and fully reaping the benefits of the peace dividends.”
Likewise, Presidential Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity stated in his statement on Friday that the Proclamations will provide greater opportunities to the MILF and MNLF in participating and engaging with the broader community as their social and political rights get restored.
He further expressed the positive impact of the amnesty on transforming the fighters into civilians.
“The amnesty proclamation opens a door for a renewed sense of unity and understanding, fostering an environment where former rebels, as well as their families, can rebuild their lives, uplift their conditions, and contribute positively to our shared goal of pursuing peace in the country,” Galvez emphasized.
Sinarimbo then called on former combatants, informing them to get ready to avail the amnesty.
He continued by reassuring the BARMM people with the provision of relevant interventions toward the development of Bangsamoro communities and local governments.
Moreover, he reaffirmed the unending commitment of the Bangsamoro Government to collaborating with the National Government to ensure long-lasting peace in the BARMM.
“We, in the Bangsamoro Government, are ready and willing to work with the National Amnesty Commission for the full implementation of the Amnesty Proclamations,” he underscored.
Previously, PBBM in his June 24 State of the Nation Address (SONA) also vowed the granting of amnesty to the former freedom fighters to ensure their holistic transformation through the abetment of the Philippine Government’s legislative body.
“To complete this reintegration process, I will issue a Proclamation granting amnesty to rebel returnees, and I ask Congress to support me in this endeavor,” he pledged. (Johamin Inok/BIO)
