Asia-Pacific

Philippine president grants amnesty to rebels

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-12 13:39

MANILA - Philippine President Benigno Aquino III signed Tuesday a proclamation granting amnesty to rebel soldiers, including one senator, involved in military uprisings in 2003 and 2006.

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Aquino told reporters in an interview that the amnesty proclamation will be submitted to Congress for its concurrence.

The President said detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV are among those that will receive amnesty.

Trillanes led a band of soldiers, more known as the Magdalo soldier, in 2003 to demand the resignation of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other senior officials over corruption allegations. Trilanes was later arrested. In 2007, while in detention, Trillanes campaigned and won as a senator.

In 2006, Col. Ariel Querubin led a group of Marines that staged a mutiny against Arroyo. Querubin, who was also jailed, has since been freed. ?

The group of Magdalo soldiers on Tuesday welcomed the amnesty granted by President Aquino.

"With all humility and gratitude, we thank President Aquino for signing the proclamation. This will give way for us to start a new chapter in our lives," Ashley Acedillo, Magdalo spokesman, said in a phone interview with local news site Inquirer.net.