Amnesty push for Abu Sayyaf bandits slammed

JOHANNA CAMILLE SISANTE, GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines - The possibility of granting amnesty to the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf has drawn flak from several key government officials, including allies of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who said such a move would set a dangerous precedent for those who engage in terroristic acts.

In separate interviews Wednesday, the officials said granting amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf might send the message that those behind abductions, beheadings, and other crimes can get away with it.

"It's just like giving gifts to criminals," said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Chief Legal Adviser Raul Gonzalez in a phone interview with GMANews.TV.

Gonzalez, who was Justice Secretary for five years until he was transferred to Malacañang last month, said he personally deems it unwise to grant amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita dangled the possibility when he said the government is open to Senator Richard Gordon's proposal to grant amnesty to the bandits as part of the plan to achieve long-lasting peace in the troubled southern Philippines region.

"Let them study that. [But] I'm against it," Gonzalez said. "We'll just give them (Abu Sayyaf) manna from heaven. No way."

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Avelino Razon Jr. said that while his office, along with the national security cluster of the Cabinet, will study Gordon's proposal, the Abu Sayyaf should be held accountable for their involvement in numerous atrocities.

"Ang kanilang gawain sa pagpatay at pagpugot, pagkidnap, pagsunog sa kanilang lugar, dapat managot sila sa aksyon na ito [They have been involved in so many killings, abductions and pillaging in many places. They have to account for these actions]," Razon said in an interview on dzXL radio.

In 2002, the United States Department of Defense included the Abu Sayyaf in its list of terror groups around the world.

The US Embassy in Manila had also thumbed down the proposed amnesty for the Abu Sayyaf.

A dangerous precedent

Under Article 7 Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution, the President has "the power to grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority of all members of Congress."

But this early, House Speaker Prospero Nograles expressed doubt over whether amnesty can be granted to the Abu Sayyaf in the first place.

"[I] am studying [the] legal question, whether amnesty can apply to bandits, terrorists, kidnap for ransom groups, murderers, etcetera. Amnesty may apply only to political crimes," Nograles said in a text message to GMANews.TV.

Another lawmaker, House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Paranañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez, echoed this.

"An amnesty proclamation which the President is empowered to issue, subject to concurrence of Congress, should be only for those accused of political offenses. Not for kidnapping, murder, arson, beheadings, etcetera," said Golez, who was National Security Adviser from 2001 to 2004.

Golez said in a text message to reporters that granting amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf "might result in the proliferation of terrorist gangs going on a rampage the way the ASG does."

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. - who hails from Mindanao - agreed with Golez's reaction, telling GMANews.TV in a text message: "It will encourage similar-minded cutthroats to follow the evil path of those who had come before them: perpetuate kidnapping as an industry and violence as a way of life."

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon likewise pointed out that the Abu Sayyaf "has no political agenda" and is therefore not qualified to be granted amnesty.

"The amnesty is not for ordinary criminals and terrorists. The Abu Sayyaf has no political agenda, and their agenda is to make money out of kidnapping and ransom payments. In all amnesties in the past, it always excluded common criminals because the amnesty is for crimes committed in pursuit of political belief," Drilon said in a phone interview with GMANews.TV.

"You can no longer enforce criminal laws if you grant amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf," said Drilon, who was Justice Secretary during the Aquino administration.

Services, not amnesty

The Philippine military, through spokesperson Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., said it would issue an official statement on the matter later in the day (see sidebar).

But senior military officers contacted by GMANews.TV reacted strongly against the possible granting of amnesty to the extremist group. The officers spoke on condition of anonymity since they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Calling the proposal foolish, an Army officer who had seen action against the Abu Sayyaf said those saying the bandit group should be granted amnesty have no idea what it was like to fall victim to the group's atrocities.

"It would be foolish to grant the group amnesty," the officer said in Filipino.

An officer of the Philippine Marines who had seen a number of his men die at the hands of the Abu Sayyaf said members of the bandit group should just surrender if they are indeed ready to lay down their arms, as Sulu Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidulla had quoted Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Albader Parad as saying.

The same officer likewise said the government should just improve basic social services in Mindanao, particularly in Sulu, if it wants to achieve developments in the region.

"Ang pag-grant ng amnesty, parang pinapakita natin na mahina ang gobyerno [Granting amnesty seems to send the message that the government is weak]," the officer said.

For his part, Senator Francis Escudero told GMANews.TV in a text message that while he is also open to the possibility of granting amnesty if it will lead to peace in Mindanao, "the government must resolve the root cause of the problem: poverty and the absence or lack of development in the area."

The proposal to grant amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf got a boost following the group's release of Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni, whom they abducted along with Vagni's fellow humanitarian workers Mary Jean Lacaba and Andreas Notter last January after the three inspected a water sanitation project in Patikul town in Sulu.

While Lacaba and Notter were freed from captivity last April within days of each other, the 62-year-old Vagni was only released early Sunday morning. -with reports from Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV