Amnesty to 'Morong 43' studied

MANILA, Philippines - The Palace is considering granting amnesty to the 43 health workers arrested in Rizal province last February after being suspected to be members of the communist New People’s Army and now standing trial over illegal possession of grenades and other explosives.

Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima revealed this yesterday as she again defended the issuance of Proclamation No. 5 that granted amnesty to detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and other former soldiers involved in three military uprisings in 2003 and 2006 against the former administration.

“The President knows the demand aired by groups sympathetic to Morong 43. The President knows about the clamor from certain groups to grant amnesty also to Morong 43 and also to other political prisoners. That is being studied,” she said.

She stressed that the issuance of amnesty is a prerogative of President Aquino, adding that it will not set a bad pre­cedent.

“The exercise of that prerogative of granting amnesty or pardon is exercised with extreme care and caution. It is something which cannot be liberally done at the whim and caprice of the executive,” De Lima explained.

The DOJ chief, however, believes that amnesties should not extend to ordinary criminals whose offenses are not political in nature since there are many other options for them, including pardon, commutation of sentence or parole.

“Otherwise, that would be abuse of the application of amnesty already,” she said.

The 43 health workers, who are now detained in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, were charged before the Regional Trial Court of Morong, Rizal with violation of PD1866 as amended by RA 8294 and RA 9516 which imposes penalties for illegal possession of grenades and other explosives and Comelec Resolution No. 8714in relation to Article 261 (q) of the Election Code which prohibits any person, unless authorized by the Comelec, to carry firearms outside his residence during the election period.

Five of them, however, were transferred to Camp Capinpin after agreeing to testify for the government in court trial.

The inquest proceedings were conducted on Feb. 7 or a day after the health workers were arrested by a raiding team composed of military and police officers at a farmhouse located at 266 Dela Paz Street. Barangay Maybangcal, Morong, Rizal.