By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 2) The inclusion of the names of Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan and some communist rebels on the list of those who are qualified for amnesty caused administration ally Senator Teofisto Guingona III to admonish Malacanang for the error.
Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate committee on peace, unification, and reconciliation, immediately suspended the hearing.
“I'd like to admonish the executive branch to get their act together. Until the chair is furnished with a comprehensive list, this (hearing ) is suspended,” he said.
Proclamation No. 75 issued by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III granted amnesty specifically to active and former personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police and their supporters who participated in failed uprisings against the Arroyo administration.
But during the hearing, senators found out that the list prepared by the executive branch included the names of Honasan, Pastor “Boy” Saycon, former ambassador Roy Seneres, and some members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA).
This is the second mistake of Malacanang on the issue. In the first proclamation, the amnesty was supposed to take effect immediately after the President signs it, but the law specifies that the amnesty needs the concurrence of Congress.
Talking to reporters after the hearing, Senator Franklin Drilon said the list was “inaccurate” because Honasan was listed as among those who participated in the Marine stand-off along with Saycon and Seneres.
“Also included in that list are former NDF (National Democratic Front) and CPP personalities. Does that mean that the CCP personalities can avail of the amnesty? I don't think that's the intention but they were included in the list,” said Drilon.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin were present at the hearing but they were not able to explain how Honasan and other personalities had been included in the list.
Asked why the committee did not care to get immediate answers from the resource persons, Guingona said that their body language showed that they could not explain it.
“Obviously, they can’t explain it,” he said.
Guingona, in a press conference, expressed his “extreme disappointment” with the way the executive branch “did their work.”
“It shows carelessness and lack of coordination,” he pointed out.
Also during the hearing, senators were surprised to learn that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had disapproved the guilty plea of four of 54 rebel soldiers so that they could be used as state witness.
“It may sound irregular but that transpired,” General Gilberto Roa of the Judge Advocates Office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines told the committee.
Drilon said this showed how the previous administration had “prostituted” the military justice.
The committee in October already approved a resolution concurring with Proclamation 50. But Malacanang amended the proclamation to specifically include members of the Philippine National Police who participated in the uprisings.
The amendment is now contained in Proclamation 75, which is the subject of the committee's discussions this Monday.
REACTION: Lolz
Ally admonishes Malacanang for erroneous amnesty list
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