MANILA: The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Friday hailed the House of Representatives’ adoption of four concurrent resolutions favoring the grant of amnesty to various rebel groups, saying it was a “significant move towards national reconciliation and societal healing”.
NTF-ELCAC Secretariat Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said the amnesty to rebel groups prioritizes the “healing of past wounds”.
“The resolutions stand as a testament to the nation’s commitment to peace-building and nation-building,” Torres said in a statement, referring to House Concurrent Resolutions 19, 20, 21, and 22 passed last Dec. 12.
Torres said granting amnesty was a “courageous step” towards fostering unity and dismantling the barriers that have divided communities.
“The NTF-ELCAC, through its multifaceted strategy, has endeavored to address not only the armed aspect of insurgency but also the socio-economic, political and ideological factors that contribute to the pe
rpetuation of conflicts,” Torres said.
He added that the amnesty initiative aligns with the body’s holistic approach to ending local armed conflicts.
“By recognizing the importance of reintegrating former rebels into society, it echoes the task force’s core principle of addressing the underlying grievances and creating pathways for those once involved in armed struggle to peacefully reintegrate into mainstream society,” Torres said.
Last November, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. granted amnesty to former New People’s Army rebels and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front and Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade.
He issued Proclamations 403, 404, 405, and 406 on Nov. 22 for the granting of the amnesty to rebels and insurgents to encourage them to return to the fold of the law, as part of the administration’s comprehensive peace initiatives.
Source: Philippines News Agency