President Benigno Simeon Aquino III said he has signed a proclamation granting amnesty to soldiers involved in the Oakwood mutiny in 2003 and the Marine standoff in 2006.
In a chance interview on Tuesday, Aquino said the approval of both chambers of Congress is needed before the decree could take effect.
"I signed it [the proclamation] yesterday (Monday)," he said.
"The process is there's a proclamation, which needs concurrence by both chambers of of Congress, then it becomes a law," the president said.
He added that the Department of National Defense (DND) will then process the applications for amnesty if the proclamation is approved.
This page requires a higher version browser If approved by Congress, the proclamation would pave the way for the release of detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
Trillanes, a former Navy official, is facing charges before military and civilian courts for his participation in two attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration.
Almost sure thing
Meanwhile, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said on Tuesday "amnesty is almost a sure thing for the mutineers.
In an interview on dzBB, Belmonte also said it is finally "time to move on" for soldiers of the Magdalo group, who protested alleged corruption under the Arroyo administration.
"Malakas, it's almost sure na ma-approve (The chances are high it will be approved. It's almost a sure thing)," Belmonte said.
But many members of the Magdalo group that took part in at least two actions against Mrs. Arroyo are no longer interested in returning to military service.
Radio dzBB's Rowena Salvacion reported Lt. James Layug said he and many of his fellow Magdalo members want to "move on" with their lives.
Layug took part in the July 25, 2003 Oakwood Mutiny led by Trillanes, to protest alleged corruption in the military and government.
Adventurism thing of the past
For its part, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it respects Aquino's decision, and that none in the leadership has objections to it.
He also expressed hopes that amnesty, along with his administration's promise to prioritize the military, would finally give reprieve to the accused soldiers and appease other soldiers who might still be disgruntled," said military spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta.
"We can say that military adventurism may be a thing of the past... Since the 1980s there has been a lot of changes, innovations in the organization, and at this point we can truly say that your Armed Forces is professional," he said.
"We feel that at this point, we have to move on. We can say that most of these military personnel have already given their time in detention so the decision is to give them amnesty," he added.
According to him, once their amnesty is approved by Congress and processed by the DND, the accused soldiers who had already retired could still get their corresponding benefits and allowances.
Free the others, too
Meanwhile, militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said Aquino should likewise grant amnesty to other political detainees, including the so-called "Morong 43," health workers who were arrested in February in Morong, Rizal.
"It is our hope that the president will also undertake positive steps in addressing the plight of some 388 political prisoners, including the Morong 43. The Department of Justice has submitted to Aquino its recommendations on the 43 detained health workers," Bayan said in a statement. — with Sophie Dedace, Mark Merueñas/LBG/VV
