DND forms committee to speed up soldiers’ amnesty

The defense department has formed a five-man amnesty committee to hasten the amnesty applications of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel accused of involvement in three rebellious acts against the Arroyo administration, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said on Monday. Gazmin made the announcement in Camp Aguinaldo, hours after the Lower House approved Proclamation No. 75 granting the amnesty. The Senate approved the proclamation on Dec. 7. The Department of National Defense committee will process the applications of military officers and enlisted personnel currently on trial for taking part in the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny, the February 2006 so-called coup attempt, or the November 2007 Manila Peninsula hotel, and who wish to avail of amnesty under the proclamation signed by President Benigno Aquino III. The committee will be headed by DND undersecretary for defense affairs Honorio Azcueta, a retired colonel from the defunct Philippine Constabulary and a member of Philippine Military Academy class 1968. Azcueta also served as caretaker of the AFP Retirement and Separation and Benefits System. The committee also includes defense undersecretary for legal affairs and strategic concerns Pio Lorenzo Batino, defense assistant secretary for personnel Lamberto Sillona, AFP deputy chief of staff for personnel Rear Admiral Cornelio dela Cruz and AFP Judge Advocate General Brig. Gen. Gilberto Roa. “They [accused military personnel] are going to apply before the committee under undersecretary Azcueta," Gazmin said. “We’ll now implement the implementing rules and regulation [IRR]. We’ll start processing," he said. After the applications are processed by the committee, these will go to the office of the defense secretary for approval or disapproval, Gazmin said. After that, the papers will be forwarded to the office of the President for final action, he said. On October 11, Aquino issued Proclamation 50 granting amnesty to all active and former personnel of the AFP and their supporters who were involved in the July 2003, February 2006, and November 2007 incidents. Malacañang transmitted Proclamation 75, an amended version of Proclamation 50, to the House on November 24 and to the Senate the next day, after lawmakers had questioned the "effectivity clause" of the proclamation and the fact that civilian supporters of the accused soldiers would also be covered by the amnesty. On Dec. 7, the Senate adopted the resolution concurring with Proclamation 75. Resolution No. 4, concurring with Proclamation No. 75, was approved by the Senate with a 14-1-1 vote. On Monday, the House concurred with the proclamation in a 213-7 vote. Those who were not in favor of the amnesty grant were ANAD Rep. Pastor Alcover Jr., Agusan del Norte Rep. Jose Aquino II, Arroyo's son Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado 'Dato' Arroyo, Arroyo's brother-in-law Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr., Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas IV, Siquijor Rep. Orlando Fua, and Lanao del Norte Rep. Imelda Dimaporo. Azcueta, Batino DND spokesman Eduardo Batac said that Azcueta was well qualified to head the amnesty committee. A retired Air Force colonel, Azcueta has a master’s degree in business administration from the Asian Institute of Management and is also from PMA class 1968. Batino, a lawyer who is expected to take care of legal matters surrounding the processing of amnesty applications, said the accused soldiers will be required to fill up an application form and present court records if they have pending cases.—With Dani Molintas/JV, GMANews.TV