Palace defends GMA pardon of private contractor

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita defended the recent pardon granted by President Arroyo to a contractor convicted of graft and corruption, saying that there is nothing wrong with the move if somebody lobbied for the freedom of the convict.

Ermita, however, said that he does not know if somebody had lobbied for the pardon of Jaime Ponce de Leon, a private contractor who was convicted of 27 counts of graft and sentenced to 203 years in prison by the Sandiganbayan.

Reports said Finance Secretary Margarito Teves lobbied with Mrs. Arroyo to pardon De Leon, who is said to be a relative of the secretary.

De Leon was found guilty of conspiring with officials of the then Ministry of Public Highways (now the Department of Public Works and Highways)–Bais City Highway Engineering District in ghost road projects.

Ermita said that in general, the power of the President to give pardon is absolute, and without condition.

He said a pardon is usually granted after the convict applies for it and his freedom is recommended by the Board of Pardons and Parole.

De Leon was reportedly pardoned right after he surrendered, more than eight years after hiding from authorities to avoid the prison sentence. In effect, he did not serve a minute of his sentence when he was pardoned last April 12, the same day he was supposed to be imprisoned.