President Benigno Simeon Aquino III has expressed his readiness to amend Proclamation 50 granting amnesty to rebel soldiers after lawmakers asked for clarification on certain portions of his order. The lawmakers are asking the President for clarification on the "effectivity clause" of the proclamation and the supporters of the rebel soldiers who will also be covered by the amnesty.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa told the House committees on justice and national defense on Wednesday that the President "is very much willing to amend the proclamation. The two House committees are conducting a joint hearing on the proclamation. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 50 on October 11, granting amnesty to active and former personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and their supporters who may have committed acts or omissions punishable under the Revised Penal Code, the Articles of War, or other special laws, because of the "Oakwood Mutiny," the "Marines stand-off," and the "Manila Peninsula incident," among others. The concurrence of both Houses of Congress is needed before the proclamation can be implemented. Open to amendment
Ochoa added they are open to any amendment "just to settle the issue on proclamation." Ochoa said the lawmakers can list down the necessary amendments "and submit it to the President for consideration not later than tomorrow (Thursday)."
Due to this development, the House cannot vote yet on whether it will concur with the proclamation or not.
Minoriy Leader Edcel Lagman said the recommendation of the joint committee should include:
the clarification on the effectivity clause of the proclamation and the supporters of the rebel soldiers who will also be granted amnesty. Ochoa said the amendments on the proclamation have to deal with the substance of the amnesty. He said the procedural matter, such as processing of the application, will be up to the Department of National Defense.
He said the guidelines have been prepared but were not yet released pending Congress' concurrence with the proclamation.
Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of national defense committee, said before Congress gives it concurrence, the lawmakers should first know the implication of the amnesty. Biazon added that lawmakers should assess whether the amnesty would help the government achieve peace, justice, and reconciliation.
Those present during the hearing were: Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin; resigned Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, and resigned Col. Ariel Querubin, among others.
Detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV refused to attend the hearing out of delicadeza despite getting permission from the court. House approval of amnesty delayed 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 November 10 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 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." 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. — VVP/RSJ, GMANews.TV 
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