Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 24) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday asked Congress to support his promise to grant amnesty to former rebels, saying this is a crucial step to complete their reintegration to society.
Under Section 19, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, the President has \”the power to grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority of all the Members of the Congress.\”
\”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,\” said Marcos in his second State of the Nation Address.
\”To complete this reintegration process, I will issue a proclamation granting amnesty to rebel returnees and I ask the Congress to support me in this endeavor,\” he added.
Fidel Ramos was the first president to grant amnesty to rebels when he issued Proclamation No. 347 in March 1994.
Meanwhile, former president Rodrigo Duterte signed four proclamations in 2021 granting amnesty to members of the communist movement, the Moro National Liberation Front and Moro the Islamic Liberation Front.
