Manero brothers released

Six years after being convicted for conspiracy to commit murder, two brothers and co-accused of controversial priest killer Norberto Manero were released from the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa yesterday.

Edilberto and Elpidio Manero were released after serving their sentences for the murder of Italian priest Tullio Favali, the Department of Justice announced yesterday.

The Manero brothers were convicted in 1997 of conspiracy to commit Favali’s murder with Norberto in 1985.

Besides conspiring to kill Favali and murdering him, the Manero brothers also reportedly ate bits of the priest’s brain.

Based on a report by the Bureau of Corrections, the DOJ said the Manero brothers exhibited "excellent" conduct during their imprisonment and were released after serving the minimum sentence.

The DOJ said the two had been under the custody of NBP chaplain Fr. Robert Olaguer after their release last May 29. It was not immediately known when they would return to their families in North Cotabato.

The Manero brothers are reportedly leaders of the infamous Ilaga vigilante group with strongly anti-communist roots.

Norberto’s conditional pardon in 1999 by then President Joseph Estrada resulted in controversy.

The DOJ ordered Norberto back to jail after it was found that he still faces kidnapping and double murder charges in Sarangani province, where he was arraigned in March 2000.

Norberto was accused of killing brothers Ali and Mambawatan Mamalumpong in South Cotabato in 1977. He escaped from the Sarangani provincial jail in April 2001, but surrendered to President Arroyo a week later. On April 15, 2002, the Sarangani regional trial court acquitted him of kidnap and murder charges.

The same court ruled that Norberto was eligible for commutation of his sentence, but it was reported that Mrs. Arroyo is not inclined to grant him parole or pardon. It is now up to the Board of Pardons and Parole to recommend his release.