Senate OKs amnesty bill for CPP-NPA-NDF members with pending cases
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Senate OKs amnesty bill for CPP-NPA-NDF members with pending cases
Photo shows alleged former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF as officers of the National Capital Region Police Office facilitate their surrender at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig on December 26, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The Senate approved on third and final reading House Concurrent Resolution No. 20, concurring with Presidential Proclamation No. 404 granting amnesty to former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and special penal laws in furtherance of their political belief.
MANILA -- The Senate approved on third and final reading House Concurrent Resolution No. 20, concurring with Presidential Proclamation No. 404 granting amnesty to former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and special penal laws in furtherance of their political belief.
The concurrent resolution was approved with 23 affirmative votes, zero negative vote and zero abstentions.
The concurrent resolution was approved with 23 affirmative votes, zero negative vote and zero abstentions.
In his manifestation, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada and Chairperson of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, called on the authorities to fully implement the amnesty program, saying this will encourage “former rebels and combatants to return to the folds of the law and to participate in nation-building within the framework of peaceful and deliberative society.”
In his manifestation, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada and Chairperson of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, called on the authorities to fully implement the amnesty program, saying this will encourage “former rebels and combatants to return to the folds of the law and to participate in nation-building within the framework of peaceful and deliberative society.”
“As I have said in my sponsorship speech, 'Amnesty is the best policy.' I call on the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), Department of Justice (DOJ), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of National Defense (DND) and Philippine National Police (PNP) who graciously lent us their valuable time and expertise during the period of interpellation, to not let the amnesty measures remain just that – a mere policy,” Estrada said.
“As I have said in my sponsorship speech, 'Amnesty is the best policy.' I call on the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), Department of Justice (DOJ), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of National Defense (DND) and Philippine National Police (PNP) who graciously lent us their valuable time and expertise during the period of interpellation, to not let the amnesty measures remain just that – a mere policy,” Estrada said.
“Let’s all make sure that this amnesty program, together with the amnesty programs for the MILF, MNLF and RPMP-RPA-ABB which were earlier approved by Congress, will be implemented fully and faithfully towards its objective of transforming lives and communities, encouraging former rebels and combatants to return to the folds of the law and to participate in nation-building within the framework of peaceful and deliberative society.”
“Let’s all make sure that this amnesty program, together with the amnesty programs for the MILF, MNLF and RPMP-RPA-ABB which were earlier approved by Congress, will be implemented fully and faithfully towards its objective of transforming lives and communities, encouraging former rebels and combatants to return to the folds of the law and to participate in nation-building within the framework of peaceful and deliberative society.”
The amnesty will extinguish the criminal liability of former rebels "for acts committed in pursuit of political beliefs and restore their civil and political rights suspended or lost by criminal conviction."
The amnesty will extinguish the criminal liability of former rebels "for acts committed in pursuit of political beliefs and restore their civil and political rights suspended or lost by criminal conviction."
This, however, will not apply to those who have already been proscribed or those charged under the Human Security Act of 2007 and the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, he stressed.
This, however, will not apply to those who have already been proscribed or those charged under the Human Security Act of 2007 and the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, he stressed.
It will not cover those who committed crimes including: kidnap for ransom, massacre, rape, terrorism, crimes committed against chastity, crimes committed for personal ends, violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, grave violations of the Geneva Convention of 1949, as well as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, enforced disappearances, and other gross violations of human rights.
It will not cover those who committed crimes including: kidnap for ransom, massacre, rape, terrorism, crimes committed against chastity, crimes committed for personal ends, violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, grave violations of the Geneva Convention of 1949, as well as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, enforced disappearances, and other gross violations of human rights.
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