RAM members up for amnesty

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is looking for other members of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) who might have been left out in the amnesty granted by the previous administrations.

This development came after a group of former military rebels led by Sen. Gregorio Honasan met with President Duterte in Malacañang to appeal for an amnesty for them to be able to claim their back pay and other benefits.

“The Judge Advocate General’s Office is still conducting a research on this,” AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said.

Reports said Honasan and his group asked the President for amnesty as they expressed their support to his administration. Duterte is reportedly inclined to approve the group’s request.

Honasan led the RAM in the meeting with the President. Among those present were Capt. Felix Turingan, Commodore Rex Robles, retired Col. Marcelino Malajacan Jr., retired Col. Hernando Caraig, retired Col. James Joven, retired police director Victor Batac and engineer Jegie Pereda.

Joining the President in the meeting were Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Office of the President Undersecretary Jesus Melchor Quitain and Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes.

An original RAM member who asked not be named said some members of the group were pardoned during the term of the late President Corazon Aquino.

He said some of them have retired and are now receiving monthly pensions on top of other benefits for military retirees.

“When then president Ramos took over, if I remember right, I think an amnesty was also declared for our remaining colleagues who staged a series of coups against then president Aquino,” he said.

RAM is a group of officers in the AFP who attempted to seize power during the 1980s and 1990s. The group played a role in the ouster of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and power grab attempts against Corazon Aquino.