Senate panel OKs resolution on amnesty proclamation

The Senate committee on peace, unfiication, and reconciliation on Monday approved the resolution concurring with President Benigno Aquino III’s proclamation granting amnesty to soldiers involved in at least three attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration. "It's been approved at the committee level. After the committee level, it will be brought to the plenary for debate and sponsorship and it will be put to a vote," Senate peace committee chairman Senator Teofisto Guingona III said after the hearing on the resolution. Guingona said the resolution will be "one of the first topics that will be taken up" when the Senate resumes session on November 8. Last week, Aquino signed Proclamation No. 50 which will grant amnesty to 300 soldiers who joined in the uprisings against the Arroyo administration in 2003, 2006, and 2007. Included in these soldiers is detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who is facing coup d’etat charges before the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 148 and rebellion charges before the Makati RTC branch 150. For the amnesty grant to take effect, the concurrence of Congress is needed. 'Fight for reforms' During Monday's hearing, opposition Senator Joker Arroyo first suggested that they wait for the decision of the Makati Regional Trial Court branch 148 on the coup d’etat charges filed against Trillanes and 30 other soldiers involved in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny. Senator Arroyo, however, stressed that he has no objection to granting them amnesty, as long as he is told what the government will gain from granting these soldiers forgiveness. "To be fruitful, the amnesty must also be beneficial, it cannot be that the government will grant amnesty without any benefit for the government," he said during the hearing. Senior deputy executive secretary Amor Amorado, who was also present during the hearing, said amnesty will give the soldiers an opportunity to "fight for reforms" they advocate in the "mainstream arena of politics." Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Franklin Drilon, for their part, just asked whether the soldiers with pending promotions would be promoted if they are granted amnesty. Amorado said that rules governing promotion are "not explicitly stated" in the proclamation but that it will be "subject to the existing rules on promotion" of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He likewise said that the applications for amnesty will be received and processed by a committee formed by the Department of National Defense once Congress concurs with the President's proclamation. On the other hand, Senator Pilar "Pia" Juliana Cayetano just wanted clarification on the distinction between pardon and amnesty. Thankful Meanwhile, former commander of the Army Scout Rangers Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and retired Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin thanked Aquino for granting them amnesty. "We are really grateful for this grant of amnesty by the President. This is a recognition of the efforts and sacrifices of our soldiers and we will always take pride of what we did, of standing up to fight oppression, to fight injustice, standing up to make a difference for our people," Lim said after the hearing. "We are very thankful to the President for granting us the amnesty although it will take a little time for this to happen. Just the same we are so happy. At least we are now ready to move on especially for those enlisted and some junior officers who would want to go on with their stalled military careers. This is a very welcome development. Thank you very much for all those who supported the amnesty," added Querubin. Both Lim and Querubin ran for senator during the May 10 polls. Both lost. Querubin was with the Nacionalista Party while Lim ran under the Liberal Party of Aquino. Guingona, for his part, supported the mutineers, saying they were only doing their job when they attempted to overthrow the Arroyo administration. "The Constitution provides that the President of the Philippines shall be elected by the people. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was not elected, she cheated her way to the elections. Therefore, she had no legitimate claim to the office of the President. She was a mere usurper. It was incumbent upon the officers of the Armed Forces to remove the usurper who had no legitimate claim on the presidency," Guingona said. Mrs. Arroyo has denied taking part in the alleged rigging of the May 2004 elections. — RSJ, GMANews.TV