25 former high-profile rebels in Caraga benefit from PBBM’s SONA promise
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – “Thank you PBBM. You fulfilled your promise in the SONA.”
Pablo, a former rebel, expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. when he finally received the Safe Conduct Pass (SCP) from Attorney Leah Tanodra-Armamento, chairperson of the Commissioners of the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) on July 1 in Butuan City.
Together with the officers of the Local Amnesty Board (LAB) Butuan, a total of 25 former high ranking and high profile rebels in Caraga received their long-awaited SCP, serving as the first batch of the SCP distribution in the region.
For Pablo, this is a tangible proof of the government’s sincerity on its peace and development agenda, motivating the remaining members of the communist terrorist group to surrender and go back to the folds of the law.
“Definitely, with this development, more rebels will surrender and choose peace,” he said.
To recall, during the 2nd State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Pres. Marcos Jr. on July 26, 2023, he promised to release a proclamation on an amnesty program for rebels who will return to the government. He further requested support from the Congress on this endeavor.
Safe Conduct Pass
The SCP is a document issued by the NAC to former rebels applying for amnesty, providing them with protection from arrest and prosecution for crimes covered by the amnesty proclamation, while their applications are being processed.
“The SCP plays a pivotal role in the amnesty process because it allows former rebels to safely engage with authorities,” Attorney said Mohammad Jamalul Gidocus, director of NAC. “This is more than just a document. It provides peace of mind, empowering our former rebels as they reintegrate to society.”
NAC also emphasized that SCP is not an amnesty grant. It does not allow the release of the holder from lawful detention. It is not an authority to carry firearms.
Its
limitations include not allowing the SCP holder to travel abroad and to commit
rebellious, seditious or terroristic acts. This is not an immunity from
liability for personal crimes and offenses not subject to amnesty. Also, SCP is
strictly personal and non-transferrable.
To streamline the amnesty application process, strategically located peace centers across the region have been designated as the initial contact points for receiving and processing applications from former rebels.
The Kagawasan 143 Peace Center of Agusan del Norte took the lead to facilitate the successful approval and distribution of the SCP to the first batch of the 25 former rebels in the region.
Agusan del Norte Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante, also the vice chairperson of LAB Butuan said, “With the SCP, this has inspired our former rebels to contribute more to nation-building and to be more productive to the society through the knowledge and skills training that they received from the government.”
Amnesty Program
To strengthen the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on the grant of amnesty program to former rebels, he issued Executive Order No. 47, series of 2023, amending Executive Order No. 125, series of 2021 or the Creation of the NAC, updating its functions to open the doors to amnesty and to cover the processing of the applications for amnesty under Proclamations Nos. 403, 404, 405 and 406.
The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) is under the Office of the President with the mandate to “receive and process applications for amnesty,” and to issue certificates of amnesty and Safe Conduct Passes. It also has the power to create the Local Amnesty Boards (LABs).
The LABs are the frontline offices of the NAC and these are located in the cities of Manila, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato and Pagadian City, Isabela City, Basilan, and in Jolo, Sulu.
It may also establish such LABs as may be required by future circumstances.
Local Amnesty Board Butuan is Caraga region’s LAB with newly-appointed officers chaired by Regional Prosecutor John S. Magdaraog of the Department of Justice-National Prosecution Service (DOJ- NPS) Caraga, with Agusan del Norte Gov. Amante as vice chairperson. Board members include PNP Caraga Director Christopher S. Abrahano; Brigadier General Adolfo B. Espuellas Jr., Brigade Commander of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army; and Attorney Ron Carlo I. Honculado of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. (RLE, PIA Caraga)
