MNLF member is first amnesty applicant in BARMM
COTABATO CITY — A member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) is the first applicant for amnesty in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
According to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru), the applicant has a case of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition pending in court.
His daughter represented him in filing an amnesty application before the Local Amnesty Board (LAB) here.
“Noong nalaman namin sa balita na may amnesty, gumaan ang pakiramdam namin dahil bilang miyembro ng MNLF, pwedeng makakuha ang tatay ko sa ganitong programa ng gobyerno,” said the applicant’s daughter.
(When we learned about the amnesty from the news, our first reaction was relief because our father, as a member of the MNLF, is entitled to avail the program of the government.)
She said her father is already on bail and could not personally appear before the LAB due to his health condition.
Article continues after this advertisement“Pero umaasa kami na hindi na ma-convict ang tatay ko dahil sa kalayaan na mabibigay ng amnesty sa kanya,” she added.
Article continues after this advertisement(But we are hoping that he will no longer be convicted because of the guarantee of freedom that the amnesty provides.)
Members of the MNLF and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front who wish to avail of the government’s amnesty program may apply with the National Amnesty Commission’s LAB in the city.
According to Opapru, the potential applicants may also contact the LAB through the numbers 09660423621 and 09622886714 if they want more information.
The amnesty program aims to grant a fresh start to members of rebel groups who have committed offenses punishable under the Revised Penal Code and special penal laws, among others, in furtherance of their political beliefs.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the amnesty program intends to create a climate conducive to peace and reconciliation.
