Malacañang has ruled that the Abu Sayyaf should not be granted amnesty, thus shooting down the proposal that was made by Senator Richard Gordon to offer the group this arrangement so as to achieve peace in the region. The new policy of the government on the Abu Sayyaf was announced by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita after consultations were made with the members of the Cabinet’s security cluster.
This announcement was made two days after Secretary Ermita who is the Chair of the Anti-Terrorism Council announced that Malacañang would study the proposal that was made by Senator Gordon. The senator suggested the possible amnesty for the group after the Italian Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni was released by the Abu Sayyaf group after almost six months of captivity. Senator Gordon claimed that the commanders of the group wanted amnesty and livelihood assistance as a precondition for laying down their arms. Gordon further added that now is the time to implement a comprehensive solution to put an end to the conflict in the region. Gordon also stated that this move by the government should be backed by good government and development projects. But this proposal by Gordon was met with great opposition coming from a number of government officials.
Malacañang, Secretary Puno opposes amnesty
Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government was one of those voices that raised opposition against the proposal. In the opinion of Secretary Puno, the granting of amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf will not look good in the eyes of the international community. In the opinion of Puno, a move to grant amnesty to the group right after they kidnapped the three Red Cross workers will not be taken positively by the international community. “After all the hardships and the deaths, forget-forget na lang? Hindi naman siguro pwedeng ganun” added Secretary Puno.
On the part of Malacañang, the official policy direction of the government was announced to the media by deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez. According to Anthony Golez, the government cannot grant amnesty to a terrorist group that is not fighting for an ideology. The severity of the crimes of the Abu Sayyaf also played an important role in shaping the direction of the policy of the government. The group has been known for a number of serious offenses like rape, bombing, arson and kidnapping.
No Amnesty for Abu Sayyaf
Malacañang has ruled that the Abu Sayyaf should not be granted amnesty, thus shooting down the proposal that was made by Senator Richard Gordon to offer the group this arrangement so as to achieve peace in the region. The new policy of the government on the Abu Sayyaf was announced by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita after consultations were made with the members of the Cabinet’s security cluster.
This announcement was made two days after Secretary Ermita who is the Chair of the Anti-Terrorism Council announced that Malacañang would study the proposal that was made by Senator Gordon. The senator suggested the possible amnesty for the group after the Italian Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni was released by the Abu Sayyaf group after almost six months of captivity. Senator Gordon claimed that the commanders of the group wanted amnesty and livelihood assistance as a precondition for laying down their arms. Gordon further added that now is the time to implement a comprehensive solution to put an end to the conflict in the region. Gordon also stated that this move by the government should be backed by good government and development projects. But this proposal by Gordon was met with great opposition coming from a number of government officials.
Malacañang, Secretary Puno opposes amnesty
Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government was one of those voices that raised opposition against the proposal. In the opinion of Secretary Puno, the granting of amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf will not look good in the eyes of the international community. In the opinion of Puno, a move to grant amnesty to the group right after they kidnapped the three Red Cross workers will not be taken positively by the international community. “After all the hardships and the deaths, forget-forget na lang? Hindi naman siguro pwedeng ganun” added Secretary Puno.
On the part of Malacañang, the official policy direction of the government was announced to the media by deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez. According to Anthony Golez, the government cannot grant amnesty to a terrorist group that is not fighting for an ideology. The severity of the crimes of the Abu Sayyaf also played an important role in shaping the direction of the policy of the government. The group has been known for a number of serious offenses like rape, bombing, arson and kidnapping.