The House committees on justice and national defense approved on Wednesday the resolution concurring with President Benigno Simeon Aquino III's Proclamation 75 granting amnesty to mutineers. Those present during the hearing were:
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa; Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin; resigned Col. Ariel Querubin, and Magdalo spokesperson Ashley Acedillo, among others. Detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, one of the expected beneficiaries of the amnesty grant, did not attend the hearing out of delicadeza (proper decorum or honorable conduct). The House committees will present the approved resolution to the plenary (all the members of Congress) for consideration by next week at the latest. Ochoa said during the hearing that admission of participation in the mutiny will be enough for the mutineers to apply for amnesty. "The law is clear. They already implied their guilt when they applied for amnesty," he said. Proclamation 75 The Senate and the House of Representatives received from Malacañang last week the amended proclamation granting amnesty to soldiers and policemen involved in at least three attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration. Aquino earlier issued on October 11 Proclamation 50 granting 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." However, lawmakers had questions about the proclamation such as the "effectivity clause" of the proclamation and the supporters of the rebel soldiers who will also be covered by the amnesty.
Malacañang transmitted to the House on November 24 and to the Senate the next day, Proclamation 75, the amended version of Proclamation 50. Mutineers The mutineers covered by the amnesty proclamation are those who 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, GMANews.TV 
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