House to hear amnesty resolution on Nov 10

The House of Representatives is set to hear on November 10 the concurrent resolution granting amnesty to active and former soldiers involved in destabilization attempts against the Arroyo administration. In a text message to GMANews.TV, Iloilo Rep Niel Tupas, chairman of the House justice committee, said they will discuss House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 7 concurring with Proclamation 50 on November 10 at 9:30 a.m. President Benigno Simeon Aquino III signed the proclamation on October 11. The HCR 7, authored by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tanada III and Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales, was filed the next day. “The amnesty proclamation and the concurrent resolution were referred to the committee on justice Oct 12. We set the hearing on November 10 at 930 am," he said. The House is set to go on recess on October 16 and will resume session on November 8. The resolution cited Section 19, Article VII of the Constitution which states that the President has the power to grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority all the members of Congress. It stated that both houses of Congress should share the view of the President that to promote an atmosphere conducive to the attainment of a just, comprehensive and enduring peace. The Constitution adds that amnesty should be declared if it complies with the government’s peace and reconciliation initiatives. “It is the sense of both Houses of Congress that it is imperative that an amnesty partaking the nature proclaimed by His Excellency, the President of the Philippines, is necessary for the general interest of the Philippines," it said. If the two chambers of Congress will concur with Aquino's Proclamation No. 50, the criminal cases filed against those involved in the July 27, 2003 Oakwood mutiny; the February 2006 Marines standoff and the November 29, 2007 Manila Peninsula incident shall be extinguished. “The grant of amnesty shall also effect the restoration of civil and political rights or entitlement that may have been suspended, lost or adversely affected by virtue of any executive action and or administrative criminal action or proceedings lodged against the grantee," the proclamation stated. Under the proclamation, all enlisted military personnel, whose applications for amnesty would be approved, will be entitled to reintegration or reinstatement. However, officers of the Armed Forces shall not be entitled to reintegration or reinstatement into service. The amnesty will also reinstate the right of AFP personnel to retirement and separation benefits. Destabilization attempts Aquino granted amnesty to soldiers involved in these three destabilization attempts against Arroyo: Oakwood mutiny — occurred on July 27, 2003 when 321 armed soldiers, who called themselves "Bagong Katipuneros" (New Katipuneros) took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center (now Ascott Makati) serviced apartment tower in Makati City. Led by Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala and then Lt. Senior Grade and now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, the mutineers protested against the alleged corruption of the Arroyo administration; Manila Peninsula incident — On November 29, 2007, Trillanes, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Capt. Nicanor Faeldon and other Magdalo officials walked out of their trial and marched through the streets of Makati City, calling for the ouster of Arroyo. They then headed to The Peninsula Manila Hotel along Ayala Avenue in Makati City and seized its second floor; February 2006 Marine standoff — The Philippines was placed under a state of emergency on February 24, 2006 after the government foiled an alleged coup d'état attempt; Arroyo lifted the state of emergency on March 3, 2006. –VVP, GMANews.TV