Govt open to amendment of amnesty proclamation

Wednesday, 24 November 2010

BY CRIS G. ODRONIA REPORTER

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino 3rd said Tuesday that his administration is open to amend Proclamation 50, which grants amnesty to soldiers who rebelled against the previous Arroyo administration.

During a press conference at Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing Plant in Calamba City, Laguna, President Aquino said that he is ready to the amendments being proposed by the Congress for the amnesty proclamation.

“We’re very open for the amendments being suggested by Congress. We never said that we are the only children of God to possess the right intellect and wisdom,” the President said in Filipino.

“We are ready to improve. We recognized the fact that we’re all humans and things made by human beings can be improved,” he told reporters.

President Aquino said that it was the Senate that initiated the proposal for amnesty to soldiers involved in the mutinies during the Arroyo administration.

“We are expecting these suggestions. These are still under talks—we have three branches of government. We’ll listen to the suggestions of Congress,” he added.

Sen. Teofisto Guingona 3rd, chairman of the Senate committee on peace, unification and reconciliation, on Monday expressed frustration after the Palace decided to withdraw the proclamation for amendments.

In October, President Aquino issued Proclamation 50 granting amnesty to over 300 rebel soldiers, including detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th, in three separate uprisings against the Arroyo administration.