PENDING resolution to the investigations on the December 3 attack at a Catholic mass in Mindanao State University-Marawi, former Congressman Mayo Almario of Davao Oriental calls on the House of Representatives to hold in abeyance consideration of the four House resolutions concurring to the Proclamations of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. granting amnesty to local rebel groups.
Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405, and 406, issued on November 22, empowers the President to grant amnesty under Section 19, Article VII of the 1989 Constitution, with the concurrence of Congress. The proclamations intend to grant amnesty to the members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas- Revolutionary Proletarian Army- Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
According to Almario, who previously chaired the Mindanao Affairs Committee in Congress, he understands and appreciates President Bongbong Marcos’ desire to give way to peace and reconciliation through amnesty. He points out, however, that the Proclamations were released before the MSU blast in Marawi City happened.
“I appeal to the Members of the 19th Congress to think of the MSU bombing victims and their families. Let’s wait for the results of the investigations to make sure that the perpetrators do not belong to any one of these groups. Sa gayon, mapapanagot natin sa batas ang salarin at hindi magamit ang sinseridad ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos sa pagbibigay daan sa kapayapaan ng bansa.”
The former Davao Oriental representative also said the grounds gained through the efforts of the military during the administration of Vice President Sara Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, should not be wasted. “Adopting the House Concurrent Resolutions prematurely is akin to disregarding the sacrifices of our soldiers whose lives are at stake in the battlefront,” said Almario.
Yesterday, the said House resolutions passed the joint hearing of the Committees on Justice and National Defense and Security. From here, the former congressman called the House members to postpone the Plenary consideration of the measures, which is the next step, “until we have put in jail those responsible for the MSU Sunday bombing.”
