Duterte grants amnesty to MNLF, MILF members over ‘political’ crimes

President Rodrigo Duterte granted amnesty to members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) “who have committed crimes in pursuit of their political beliefs.”

Duterte issued similar amnesties to members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade, and the Communist Terrorist Group.

Malacañang on Tuesday, February 16, released these amnesty documents – Proclamations No. 1090 to 1093 – that Duterte had signed on February 5.

The grant of amnesty covers the following crimes:

• Rebellion or insurrection
• Conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion or insurrection
• Sedition
• Conspiracy to commit sedition
• Inciting to sedition
• Illegal assembly
• Illegal association
• Direct assault
• Indirect assault
• Resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or the agents of such person
• Tumults and other disturbances of public order
• Unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances
• Alarms and scandals
• Illegal possession of firearms, ammunition or explosives, provided that these crimes or offense were committed in furtherance of, incident to, or in connection with the crimes of rebellion or insurrection, and
• Those charged, detained, or convicted of common crimes but who can establish by substantial evidence that they have actually committed said crimes in pursuit of political beliefs

However, all proclamations state that amnesty cannot be granted to persons who have been proscribed as terrorists or charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

Also, crimes like murder, rape, kidnap for ransom, terrorism, and other crimes committed against chastity, as defined by the Revised Penal Code, are not covered by the proclamation. Neither are crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes, torture, and other gross violations of human rights.

The signing of the proclamations comes as Duterte created a National Amnesty Commission to process the amnesty applications of the MILF, the MNLF, and the communist groups mentioned.

Members of these groups who wish to be granted amnesty must apply within a year from the effectivity of the proclamations, or when a majority of the members of Congress concur with the grant of amnesty. – Pia Ranada/Rappler.com