APCHRP: Marcos “sham-nesty” offer a disingenuous political stunt
The Asia-Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (APCHRP) dismisses the alleged amnesty program by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as a mere political stunt rather than a genuine attempt to mend peace.
Under Proclamation no. 404, amnesty may be granted to former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) or their front organizations who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code, even if those so-called crimes are non-violent nor involve the use of arms. Under such conditions, jailed activists who belong to red-tagged mass organisations will be enticed to lie and claim to be with the underground rebellion in exchange for their freedom.
This bogus amnesty program also lists membership with the CPP or NDF as a crime, regardless if the person participated in any rebellious or violent acts at all. In doing so, Proclamation no. 404 conflates activism and political dissent with terrorism, a slap in the face of non-violent activists in the Philippines and elsewhere. It also further reinforces the dangerous notion that activism is terrorism, rather than a legitimate human right.
Marcos’ amnesty program is also a mockery as it does not include individuals charged under the draconian Human Security Act of 2007 or the more repressive Anti-Terrorism Act of 2021. Both pieces of legislation have been weaponized against activists, used to arrest individuals for their activism, with many resulting in their deaths. Human rights organisation, Karapatan, reported that 78 cases of arrest and illegal detention and over 60 cases of extrajudicial killings, have been documented so far under the Marcos Jr. regime. The roll-out of this sham amnesty program will only worsen these cases of red tagging, putting more activists at risk of politically-motivated assassinations and trumped-up charges.
Most of all, Marcos’ Proclamation no. 404 is bereft of any sincerity because it fixates on creating surrenderees rather than addressing the root causes of the rebellion itself. By making such an oversight, the Marcos administration is showing it is not interested in just and lasting peace, but merely wants to score political points by creating the illusion that the armed rebellion is waning.
For those reasons, Marcos’ amnesty program should be referred to as a ‘sham-nesty’ program instead. It is not a genuine attempt at creating peace, but a sham aimed to make his Government look good. It is obvious that the program was established to deflect the negative publicity the Marcos government is receiving with soaring unemployment and a rising cost of living. The President is also desperate to retain the loyalty of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), after rumours persist of planned destabilisation efforts against his Government. It is shameful that he would sacrifice peace in the country just to stay in power.
APCHRP dismisses this so-called amnesty program of President Marcos and instead calls on the Philippine government to focus on the country’s high inflation rate and high unemployment. We also call for a complete halt on aerial bombings against indigenous peoples communities in the Philippines and an end to destructive mining operations that ruin our natural environment. It is those actions that would signal Marcos’ sincerity in achieving peace, not this “sham-nesty” program.
