WHEREAS, accepting rebels back into the folds of the law through amnesty, and eventually providing them access to the government's existing socio-economic services, are essential to attaining peace and reconciliation in the country;

WHEREAS, an amnesty program is an integral component of the Government's comprehensive peace efforts as mandated in Executive Order No. 3 dated 28 February 2001;

WHEREAS, the granting of amnesty is part of the Social Integration Program for former rebels as provided under Administrative Order No. 172 dated 23 March 2007;

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need and expressed desire to extend amnesty to members of the CPP-NPA-NDF and other communist rebel groups as an instrument of reconciliation, and as a path for their return to a peaceful, democratic, and pluralistic society;

NOW, THEREFORE. I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the land do hereby declare and proclaim:

Section 1. Grant of Amnesty. Amnesty shall be granted to members of the CCP-NPA-NDF and other communist rebel groups who shall apply under this Proclamation.

Section 2. Coverage. Amnesty shall cover the crime of rebellion and all other crimes included therein or incident thereto in pursuit of political beliefs as defined by jurisprudence, whether punishable under the Revised Penal Code as special laws.

Provided, that the amnesty granted under this Proclamation shall not cover the crimes against chastity, rape, torture, kidnapping for ransom, use and trafficking of illegal drugs and other crimes for personal ends and violations of international law or convention and protocols, even if alleged to have been committed in pursuit of political beliefs.

Section 3. Who may file for amnesty. Any member of the CPP-NPA-NDF and other communist rebel groups who has committed any act or omission in pursuit of political belief, referred to in Section 2, including those detained, charged or convicted for such acts or omission, may file an application for amnesty.

Provided, that crimes for which amnesty may be granted must have been committed on or before the date of effectivity of this Proclamation.

Provided, further, that those who have already been granted amnesty under previous amnesty proclamations shall no longer qualify for amnesty under this Proclamation.

Provided furthermore, that those who have been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction may benefit from a grant of amnesty by the restoration of applicants ™ civil or political rights only.

Provided additionally, that those persons who applied for amnesty under previous proclamations but whose applications were not considered for having been made outside the reglementary period for filing, may apply under this Proclamation.

Provided finally, that the National Committee on Social Integration (NCSI) upon due deliberation, shall issue the corresponding Certificate of Amnesty to qualified applicants. The filing of an application herein, shall not ipso facto result in a grant of amnesty.

Section 4. Effects of Amnesty. The grant of amnesty shall have the following effects:

Extinction of Criminal Liability. Amnesty under this Proclamation shall extinguish any criminal liability for acts committed in pursuit of political beliefs, without prejudice to the grantee ™s civil liability for injuries or damages caused to private persons.

Restoration of Civil or Political Rights. The grant of amnesty shall restore the grantee ™s civil and political rights lost or suspended by virtue of conviction for crime/s covered thereby.

Section 5. Issuance of Sale Conduct Pass. Unless detained pursuant to law, a person who applies for amnesty shall be issued a Sale Conduct Pass by the Provincial or City Peace and Order Council Amnesty Centers (P/CPOC-ACs) as provided for under Section 9 of this Proclamation. The Safe Conduct Pass shall provide immunity from warrantless arrest for offenses covered under this Proclamation.

Section 6. Turnover of Firearms. Applicants with firearms should turnover their firearms within thirty (30) days from their filing of application for amnesty without incurring liability for illegal possession thereof. Thereafter, illegal possession of firearms by any applicant or amnesty grantee shall be a ground for denial or revocation of the amnesty, without prejudice to legal prosecution for such illegal possession.

Section 7. Confidentiality Clause. Any testimony of the applicant as well as the witnesses, and/or any evidence presented by the applicant before the National Committee on Social Integration (NCSI) and P/CPOC-ACs not otherwise available to the prosecution, shall not be used as evidence in any other proceeding where the amnesty is not in issue, except for the offense of perjury committed in the course of the testimony relevant to the amnesty application.

Section 8. Application Period. Application for the grant of amnesty shall be filed under oath with the NCSI or P/CPOC-ACs within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Proclamation.

Section 9. Implementing Mechanisms. Pursuant to Administrative Order No. 172, series of 2007, the NCSI shall be the principal body at the national level to coordinate and monitor the implementation of this Proclamation.

For this purpose, the NCSI shall, among others, call on any government office, body, agency, instrumentality, council and commission to provide assistance in the implementation of its functions; as well as constitute committees and deputize offices in such provinces or cities, including their respective Peace and Order Councils (POCs), as may be necessary for the processing of amnesty proclamations. Furthermore, the NCSI shall promulgate its own rules and regulations relative to the implementation of this Proclamation.

At the local level, Amnesty Centers shall be established under the Peace and Order Councils of provinces and cities. Said Centers shall be composed of the following:


The DILG provincial/city office shall receive the amnesty applications for processing by the P/CPOC.

Section 10. Budget. The initial amount necessary to implement this Proclamation shall be sourced from the Office of the President, and released to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). Regular funds shall be provided on the succeeding years for its implementation under the General Appropriations Act.

Section 11. Separability Clause. Any provision of this Proclamation declared unconstitutional shall not affect the validity of the other provisions thereof.

Section 12. Repealing Clause. All orders, rules, regulations and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Proclamation, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 13. Effectivity Clause. This Proclamation shall take effect upon concurrence by a majority of all the members of Congress.

Done in the City of Manila this 6th day of September, in the year of our Lord, two thousand and Seven.


By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary