The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) holds its press conference entitled, ‘TAGGED Reloaded: Debunking Lies By Telling The Truth’, on August 1, 2023. Sitting in as resource persons for this episode are Secretary Charlie G Galvez Jr of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and Undersecretary Ernesto C Torres Jr, the Executive Director of NTF-ELCAC. (PIA-NCR photo)
MANILA, (PIA) -- The Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity on Tuesday expressed optimism that rebel returnees will become agents of peace and development once the government’s upcoming amnesty program is in full swing.
“With the coming rollout of our amnesty program for rebel returnees, it is our hope that they will be able to make a holistic transition to mainstream society and become agents of peace and development,” Secretary Charlie G Galvez Jr said during a press conference entitled, ‘TAGGED Reloaded: Debunking Lies By Telling The Truth’ held at the Community Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
“We would like to assure you that the Marcos administration is determined to build upon and sustain the gains to comprehensive peace process, and fulfill all the commitments made by the national government under the signed peace agreement,” Galvez added.
The government eyes to complete the amnesty program rollout by late 2024, as there is an estimated 1,865 active members of the communist armed group operating in some areas of the country.
Galvez was joined by Undersecretary Ernesto C Torres Jr, the Executive Director of NTF-ELCAC, in clarifying issues surrounding the amnesty program and highlighting the government's commitment to fostering unity, peace, and development.
The officials also gave the assurance that the government remains unceasing in its efforts to curb insurgency in the country.
Galvez said their focus is on localized peace efforts (LPE) to ensure left-leaning sympathizers return to the fold of the law.
“The localized peace engagement or the LPE, and its transformation program, which are anchored on the whole-of-nation approach, has proven to be among the most effective ways of addressing the challenges caused by the decades-long communist armed conflict,” he said.
“This is the reason why the Task Force LPE Cluster has focused on conducting localized peace talks and partnering with provincial local government units to develop plans to implement the transformation program in their respective areas with our former rebels, we call it, friends rescued,” he added.
It can be recalled that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had earlier announced, in his second state-of-the-nation (SONA) speech to Congress, that he would offer an amnesty to armed insurgents.
“Through community development and livelihood programs, the Barangay Development and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Programs have been effective in addressing the root cause of conflict in the countryside,” Marcos said in his SONA on July 24.
“To complete this reintegration process, I will issue a proclamation granting amnesty to rebel returnees. And I ask Congress to support us in this endeavor,” the chief executive added.
The authority to grant amnesty was constitutionally vested in the President according to the provisions of the 1987 Constitution. As stated in section 19, article VII, the chief executive has the power to "grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority of all the Members of the Congress."
With a single proclamation, the President can announce amnesty, which essentially entails the pardon or forgiveness of an individual's criminal actions. The proclamation allows the chief executive to define the scope and impact of the amnesty, specifying the covered offenses and the resulting effects. (PIA-NCR)
