A member of the Bangsamoro Parliament has asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to grant amnesty to former combatants of the two Moro revolutionary fronts to demonstrate the confidence of his administration in the willingness of the former combatants “to embrace the peaceful normalization process” in Mindanao.

Baileng S. Mantawil, a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and who called herself “a proud daughter of Bangsamoro mujahid” has also earlier appealed to Malacanang to include her appeal in the State of the Nation Address (Sona) of the President.

“I stand with unwavering determination and heartfelt conviction to call upon President Bongbong Marcos to include in his critical priority agenda of granting amnesty to the combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF),” she said.

Mantawil said the granting of amnesty should be done “simultaneously with the redeployment of government troops and disbandment of armed groups and individuals for an effective implementation of normalization processes”.

Coming from a history of oppression and revolution, she said, “it is only natural for our combatants to seek to protect themselves. Their experiences have bred deep-rooted mistrust over decades, and this mistrust must be met with compassion and understanding”.

“We call upon the President to heed this urgent plea and take bold action. The impact of this decision goes beyond words; it has the power to transform lives, instill hope, and create an environment where peace can truly flourish,” Mantawil said.

She said that by granting amnesty, President Marcos “has the opportunity to leave a legacy of peace, reconciliation, and unity that will resonate throughout generations to come”