MANILA -- The amnesty proclamation aimed at giving freedom to the military personnel and officers who involved in failed uprisings against the previous administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has easily hurdled the first step in getting the congressional approval.

Senate committees on peace, unity and reconciliation chairman Teofisto “TG” Guingona III on Monday said that Proclamation 50, issued by President Benigno Aquino III last week, had passed the Senate committee level.

”It’s been approved in the committee level. It will now be brought to the plenary for sponsorship and debates. It will be put to a vote,” Guingona said after the Monday’s Senate first and last joint hearing by the committee on rules.

Guingona said the amnesty proclamation would be one of the priority topics when Congress resumes on Nov. 8, boosting hope of detained senator Antonio Trillanes IV to finally participate Senate session for the first time since his election in 2007.

President Aquino issued amnesty proclamation No. 50, granting amnesty to 303 rebel soldiers in connection with the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, the 2006 Marines stand-off and the 2007 Manila Peninsula Incident.

Some of those involved in the failed military uprisings were present during Senate hearing like Brigadier General Danilo Lim, former Colonel Ariel Querubin, former first lieutenant Francisco Ashley Acedillo, Major General Renato Miranda, and General Jose Almonte.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Jose Amor Amorado and Department of National Defense legal chief Patrick Velez attended the hearing as well as Trillanes’ chief of staff Reynaldo Robles.

Lim and Querubin, both ran but failed to get Senate slots in the last May elections, expressed gratitude to President Aquino for the issuance of the amnesty proclamation.

”We are really grateful for this grant of amnesty by the President. This is recognition of the efforts and sacrifices of our soldiers and we will always take pride of what we did, of standing up to fight oppression, to fight injustice, standing up to make a difference for our people,” Lim said.

”We are very thankful to the president for granting us the amnesty. Although it will take a little time for this to happen but just the same we are so happy. At least we are now ready to move on specially, for those enlisted and some junior officers would want to go on with their stalled military careers,” Querubin said.

In his opening statement, Guingona downplayed criticisms that the amnesty was an interference with the Oct. 28 decision of a Makati court on the cases filed against some of the rebel soldiers, including Trillanes.

“Jurisprudence has held that the amnesty proclamation is a public act, of which the courts should take judicial notice. It is therefore clear that if there is any entity that must suspend its proceedings, it is the courts,” Guingona said.

Guingona also said that the President chose to proclaim amnesty “in order to promote an atmosphere conducive to the attainment of a just, comprehensive, enduring peace.”

As the proclamation requires the concurrence of Congress, Guingona said it was but prudent and necessary that “we, at the Senate, do everything we can to guarantee the efficient and proper execution of the amnesty.”

Guingona assailed former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for cheating her way to the presidency, leading to nine years of oppression that forced some soldiers to stage military uprisings against the previous administration..

”In my opinion, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was not elected. She was a mere usurper. She cheated her way. Therefore, it was incumbent upon the officers of the AFP to remove the usurper who had no legitimate claim on the office of the presidency. They were acting, therefore, in compliance and not in defiance of the Constitution,” Guingona said.

”If there’s somebody who should be jailed, it is Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for violating the law,” Guingona, a lawyer, said.

Despite on recess, Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile and Senate committee on rules (acting) chairperson and Majority floor leader Vicente Sotto III as well as senators Bongbong Marcos, Joker Arroyo and Pia Cayetano attended the Senate hearing.

Sen. Arroyo clarified that he was not really against the amnesty proclamation but only urged President Aquino to wait first the impending decision of Makati Regional Trial Court Judge Oscar Pimentel who has tried the cases of Trillanes and other involved soldiers.

”The power of the President to grant amnesty cannot be challenged. However, it should be exercised with utmost prudence and subject to the indispensable concurrence of Congress,” Arroyo said.

If he (Pimentel) decides to acquit, senator Trillanes immediately becomes a free man beholden to no one. If he convicts, then the Senate before voting on the amnesty measure must look at the reasons why the court so decided and measure that side by side with the blanket amnesty given by the President,” the veteran lawmaker said.

Trillanes participated both in the 2004 Oakwood mutiny and 2007 Manila Peninsula Hotel siege.