In October, House leaders assured President Benigno Simeon Aquino III that Proclamation 50, seeking to grant amnesty to over 300 mutineers, would become a law. However, it seems it would take the House more time to act on the resolution concurring with the proclamation issued by Aquino. This developed on Wednesday as lawmakers sought the presence of more resource persons — detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and the entire Feliciano Commission — in the hearings of the House committees on justice and on national defense. The Feliciano Commission was formed in 2003 by former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The commission was formed to look into the circumstances that led to the July 27 siege of a posh Oakwood Premier (now Ascot) in Makati City by rebel soldiers who were demanding for Arroyo’s resignation. Proclamation No. 50 grants amnesty to all active and former personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and their supporters, who committed acts or omissions punishable under the Revised Penal Code, the Articles of War or other special laws related to the following:
the July 27, 2003 Oakwood Mutiny; the February 2006 Marines Stand-Off; the November 29, 2007 Manila Peninsula Incident, and/or related incidents "provided that amnesty shall not cover crimes against chastity and other crimes committed for personal ends." The approval of both chambers of Congress, however, is needed before Proclamation 50 could take effect. The Senate committee on peace, unfiication, and reconciliation approved on October 18 the resolution concurring with Aquino's proclamation. The House, however, has yet to approve the resolution concurring with Proclamation 50. During Wednesday's hearing, which sought to approve or reject House Concurrent Resolution 07 concurring with Aquino’s Proclamation 50, Minority Leader Edcel Lagman asked the committee to invite members of the Feliciano Commission. The Feliciano Commission was composed of: former Supreme Court Justice Florentino Feliciano; former Associate Justice Minerva Reyes; Carolina Hernandez; Fr. Joaquin Bernas; retired Commodore Rex Robles, and Capt. Roland Narciso. Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, House national defense committee chairman, also asked for the presence of one of the framers of the Constitution to clarify on the constitutional phrase "the soldier is the protector of the people and the State." He and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas also wanted the committees to invite the following: Trillanes; retired General Danilo Lim, and retired General Renato Miranda. The three soldiers participated in uprisings against the Arroyo administration. The lawmakers want them to give their interpretation of the said phrase and to express their views on the proclamation. Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas, head of the justice committee, approved the requests to invite more resource persons and set the next hearing on November 17. A motion for leave of court will be filed by the committee for Trillanes. Tupas also ordered the committee secretariat to invite Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa to the next hearing.
Present during the hearing were Ashley Acedillo, spokesman of the mutineers; and retired Co.l Ariel Querubin, who was also detained for going against the Arroyo administration.
The House Concurrent Resolution 07 was authored by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III and Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II. It was signed by at least 100 lawmakers. Mutineers The mutineers who are covered by Proclamation 50 were involved in the following incidents: 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 Gloria Macapagal-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 stand-off — 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.
- KBK/VVP, GMANews.TV 
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