Panayam kay National Amnesty Commission Commissioner Nasser Marohomsalik kaugnay sa Mindanao Development Program at update sa Amnesty program ng pamahalaan
Panayam kay National Amnesty Commission Commissioner Nasser Marohomsalik kaugnay sa Mindanao Development Program at update sa Amnesty program ng pamahalaan
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00:00 Mindanao Development Program and an update on the Amnesty Program of the Government,
00:05 we will discuss this with Commissioner Nasser Moroham Salik of the National Amnesty Commission.
00:13 Commissioner, good afternoon and welcome to the new Philippines.
00:18 Thank you, Lin, and good morning to our listeners.
00:23 First of all, Commissioner, where are the development programs
00:28 for the whole region of Mindanao?
00:31 In Bangsamoro, the development plans of Mindanao are focused
00:40 because of the peace talks of our government and rebel organizations of Bangsamoro,
00:51 specifically the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front.
00:59 Yes, Commissioner, partner, I was just in Mindanao last week.
01:04 I attended the Mindanao Peace and Security Forum in Sambuanga,
01:09 and the peace and order situation in Mindanao is very good.
01:13 What is your assessment as a commissioner of the National Amnesty Commission
01:17 in our peace and order situation?
01:20 Except for sporadic encounters, which are par and pew between,
01:31 involving the roving forces and units of the two armies of the central government
01:37 and the Bangsamoro region, there are no major disturbances of peace and order.
01:48 Because of the peace talks, development is now pouring in Mindanao.
01:57 If you remember, in 2015, the poverty incidence in Bangsamoro was more than 50%
02:09 of the population of Mindanao, families of the Bangsamoro region.
02:15 Okay. Has that changed now?
02:18 So in 2018, there was a 20% decrease.
02:24 And according to the Anti-Poverty Commission, by the first semester of 2023,
02:31 it was only 19 plus percent.
02:34 What I mean by that is, as years go by, and because of the peace talks,
02:40 not to mention the investment in Mindanao, which is in 2024, about 2.6 billion,
02:52 the development in Mindanao is continuously improving.
02:58 And there will be finally a resolution of the Mindanao conflict.
03:16 Yes, because Commissioner, with security comes development.
03:19 If people are not secure, there will be no economic development in Mindanao.
03:24 So it's good that our situation is like that now.
03:27 So, here in the issue of El Niño, can you give us an update on the steps we are taking
03:35 to get better here in the profound effects of El Niño in the agriculture of Mindanao?
03:41 In my experience, because I'm from Mindanao, I know that Mindanao is rich in water.
03:49 For example, in Lanao del Sur, where I hail from, the rivers are criss-crossing there.
03:56 Which are tributaries to the Lanao Lake, the second biggest lake in the Philippines.
04:04 It's not lost. Of course, the level sometimes goes down, but not to a critical level.
04:17 In Maguindanao, the biggest river in the Philippines is there, the Pulangi River.
04:24 So, in my opinion, we will survive this El Niño phenomenon.
04:31 Because God has blessed our many rivers.
04:41 So, perhaps, the Bansamoro region is better than other regions of the Philippines.
04:51 What about in terms of weather?
04:54 Do you also get stormy weather in the region?
04:57 Like what you hear in the northern part, Cagayan, Norte?
05:00 That's normal.
05:01 We get stormy weather.
05:03 When it rains, it pours.
05:07 So,
05:09 The effect is also severe.
05:11 The stormy weather is also severe.
05:14 But because we have catch basins, we have lakes.
05:19 In the Linao, we have three lakes.
05:21 So, it's not as bad as what happens in the drylands here in Luzon and Visayas.
05:31 Okay. That's good to know.
05:33 That's why our agriculture is good there.
05:36 It's even more abundant sometimes.
05:39 Because here, there are many damages to our agricultural lands.
05:43 So, you are still allowed to be there in your area.
05:47 I promise that I will call Donny.
05:49 Yes, yes.
05:50 Bansamoro Moroland.
05:52 And that's why that's our focus this morning.
05:54 What are the programs that are helping now to have access to healthcare and education for our fellow citizens there?
06:03 What I know is that the Bansamoro government upgraded our hospitals.
06:11 They made 100 beds out of 50 beds.
06:17 So, that's the project of BARB.
06:19 What I know is, for example, our hospital in Marawi City, a public hospital, is very good.
06:28 There are scientists there, medical practitioners who have the requisite qualifications to do all the medical works.
06:49 They don't have to come to Manila anymore.
06:51 Yes, yes. For example, in Binidayan, one of the towns there, third-rate towns, has an upgraded hospital.
07:00 So, the Bansamoro project is continuing.
07:05 Okay.
07:06 In the area of the Commissioner of Industrial Development of Bansamoro, for example,
07:11 there was a news that there is an Industrial Park Development Program in Bansamoro.
07:16 How is this?
07:17 You know, I know something that we don't know yet because the projects were not publicized.
07:27 I did not read the Bansamoro Development Plan, but I remember during the presidency of GMA,
07:37 there was this plan from Saudi Arabia to open an agricultural complex in Lanao, which will cover about 10,000 hectares of land.
07:49 And every infrastructure will be built there, including runways.
07:53 But I don't know what happened.
07:56 They said that if that is materialized, we will have 10,000 employees from among us.
08:07 There was another project when our friend, Ambassador Jaron Alonto, was the ambassador to Iran.
08:19 One time, he came home and I had a conversation with him.
08:24 He said, "Sir, I have a project. Iran is going to establish a refinery in the Philippines."
08:32 But unfortunately, he died.
08:39 So we did not have a follow-through conversation to know the details of the project.
08:45 That was towards the end of the Ramos administration.
08:48 What I mean is, why don't we exploit the possibility that other Middle East countries will invest here?
08:59 Establish an oil refinery.
09:02 If we don't want to do it in Iran, there are many Middle East countries that are friendly to us.
09:09 Yes, friendly to us.
09:11 Iran is busy.
09:13 We should revive the project because I don't think Iran will do it if it is not a lucrative business.
09:21 I think other Muslim countries might invest in us other than Iran.
09:32 You said Saudi Arabia. I hope that will continue.
09:37 I don't know if it will continue.
09:39 It is just a plan but it is not realized.
09:43 Maybe now, under BARM, it will be realized.
09:46 But these projects were subject of discussion because they are sure that they will come here.
09:56 But I don't know what happened along the way.
09:58 Maybe the flight was delayed.
09:59 Maybe it was delayed.
10:00 All right.
10:01 In another discussion, we also asked for an update on the current Amnesty program of the government.
10:07 How many applicants are you accepting now?
10:11 Just the work-in applicants.
10:13 But we know that thousands have already been accepted.
10:18 Because they are waiting for the publication of the IRR.
10:23 It will be published this coming third week of May.
10:27 Congratulations. It is almost there.
10:29 Yes.
10:30 I saw it.
10:31 It is already the third week.
10:32 Yes. Thousands of people from the MILF, MNLF, Revolutionary…
10:44 Proletarian Army.
10:45 Yes, Proletarian Army.
10:47 Even the CCP, NPA, and NDF.
10:55 Thousands of people are ready to file their applications.
11:00 Okay. So, if that happens, what are the next steps?
11:05 Actually, we at NAC have already established 10 field offices, regional offices.
11:17 I mean 9. I stand corrected. 9.
11:21 The local Amnesty boards.
11:27 Amnesty boards. Yes.
11:28 They were already appointed.
11:30 They are supported by a secretariat, already appointed also.
11:35 Our local Amnesty boards will take their oath this 28th of this month,
11:42 before Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamil.
11:47 Okay. So, about the local Amnesty board, Commissioner,
11:49 because I'm sure that many of our former rebels, or even rebels today,
11:55 are interested in obtaining an amnesty.
11:58 So, where are our 9 local Amnesty boards?
12:02 These local Amnesty boards are situated in Pagadian, Cagayan de Oro.
12:08 That is Pagadian City. Cagayan de Oro City.
12:11 Cotabato City. Dabao City.
12:14 Bacolod. Iloilo.
12:19 The National Capital Region.
12:22 Basilan.
12:25 Anulug.
12:28 So, 9.
12:30 But the local Amnesty boards, together to the CPP, NPA, NDA, will follow.
12:42 Will follow.
12:43 Wala pang budget noon eh.
12:44 Okay.
12:45 Iyingi pa kami po sa gobyerno.
12:47 The Executive Secretary assured us of financial support.
12:52 Okay. Sana, Commissioner, makapaglagay din tayo sa iba pang lugar,
12:55 especially yung mga lugar na meron pang active guerrilla front ang CPP, NPA, NDA.
13:01 So, dito sa Luzon, dito sa Visayas, yung mga Samar na area, Takloban,
13:07 pwede tayong maglagay dun para matanggap din natin yung mga application ng mga rebel ding CPP, NPA.
13:13 Totoo po yan.
13:14 We are going to establish 10 more local amnesty boards.
13:18 One in Butuan, in the Kidapawan, in Baguio, in the North, in Pampanga, in Samar, and Lete.
13:37 Basta, sampu po.
13:38 Sampu pa.
13:39 Sampu. Sampu pa.
13:40 All right.
13:41 So, Commissioner, sana maayos na po natin yan.
13:46 Gusto pa na sana natin itanong sa kanya, kahit mabilis lang po,
13:50 ano po ba yung mga sinong qualified at hindi qualified dito sa amnesty program na ito?
13:58 There are offenses covered amnestyable.
14:02 Okay.
14:03 All those rebels who committed offenses for these crimes are qualified.
14:17 Tungkol sa CPP, NPA, NDF, they are addressed as former rebels because they have to surrender first to the security agencies of the government.
14:31 So, kami ni-interpretation po, kung nag-file sila ng amnesty sa amin, that will be considered a surrender.
14:38 Of course. Yes.
14:39 As a surrender.
14:41 Ayan.
14:42 So, lahat po, this is the widest program of amnesty yet by government.
14:54 Kahit may date sentence po yung rebelde na qualified naman, pwede po makakamutin.
15:03 Pwede pa rin. Okay.
15:05 Detained or deprived of liberties, pwede rin po.
15:09 Pupuntahan rin namin po yung mga lugar kung saan sila, especially those in jail
15:17 or those still in some remote areas na natatakot mag-file ng amnesty.
15:30 Amnesty.
15:31 All right. Maraming salamat po sa inyong oras, Commissioner Nasser Moroham Salik ng National Amnesty Commission.