Priest killer freed

Convicted priest-killer Norberto Manero Jr. walked out a free man yesterday after 23 years in prison.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez approved yesterday the recommendation of Bureau of Corrections director Oscar Calderon for Manero’s release.

“We are also aware that delaying the release of the prisoner is punishable under Article 126 of the Revised Penal Code,” said Gonzalez in his endorsement of Manero’s release.

Gonzalez said that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) did not object to the release of Manero.

Since being sentenced to life in prison in 1985 for killing Italian Catholic priest Tullio Favali, Manero has been serving time at the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa. Calderon said the convict had served his prison term.

Clean-shaven and wearing a white polo shirt, the 63-year-old Manero proudly held up his release papers for the cameras.

“I am grateful to all who have helped me, and my only desire now is to live a quiet life in my province with my family, and tend to my farm,” he said. Hugging his wife Evelyn, Manero denied reports that he had eaten parts of Favali’s brain after the priest was killed in 1985.

“That’s not true,” he told reporters.

“I don’t know where and how that story came about. I would not want to go back to my old life. I would like to live a quiet life and rebuild my family.”

Manero’s granddaughter, Janice Original, was also at the national penetentiary to welcome him back to freedom.

At Malacañang, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol said due process was observed because Manero had already served his sentence.

“If  (Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez) did not do this, he could be charged with illegal detention,” he said.

In endorsing Calderon’s recommendation, Gonzalez said President Fidel Ramos commuted Manero’s life term on Feb. 6, 1998, and that after he had served 19 years, he was entitled to conditional pardon.

“I just added some explanations, especially in connection with the supposed reforms of the clemency issued by FVR (President Fidel V. Ramos),” he told reporters.

“We cited the fact that Mr. Manero is a prisoner based on a criminal case who is covered by the Revised Penal Code. On the basis of that penal code, all matters which affect prisoners, the construction of the law is construed in favor of the prisoner and strictly against the government.

“Likewise, there is a provision in the RPC which states that if you delayed the release of prisoner entitled for release, you are punishable by law.”

Gonzalez said the criminal case against Manero that President Joseph Estrada cited when he revoked in 2000 the conditional pardon that he granted the convict in 1999 was later dismissed by the court.

“But even assuming that the recall by President Estrada can be sustained, still prisoner Manero would be entitled to the relief by virtue of the credits which were legitimately counted in his favor,” he said.

Gonzalez said during a dialogue with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines last Jan. 21, the bishops did not object to the release of Manero.

“Thus, it proves that none of the princes of the Church raised any objection to a Manero release, notwithstanding the fact that a priest was the victim,” he said.

Gonzalez said that there were no conditions imposed on Manero for his release.

“However, he can always be arrested if he commits another crime,” he said.

Last week, Gonzalez had stopped Manero’s supposed release pending a review of his case.

Meanwhile, Estrada said yesterday the release of Manero from prison is already a non-issue for him.

“I don’t have further comment on that because it is a non-issue now,” he said. “They can now pardon him (Manero).”

He revoked in 2000 the conditional pardon which he granted Manero in 1999 because the family of his victims had opposed his release, Estrada said.

In Cotabato province, the Catholic community has forgiven Manero for his involvement in the murder of Favali in 1985.

“The sadness remains that a priest, a just man, is dead but this must not block the road to forgiveness,” said Archbishop of Zamboanga Romulo Valles in a statement.

A compatriot of Favali, Fr. Peter Jeremiah, who has been working at the Cotabato diocese for almost 30 years now, said they had forgiven Manero as early as 2005 when they visited him at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa.

They are ready to accept Manero to the fold of Christianity with open arms if he intends to return to Tulunan, he added.

However, Manero’s family and siblings have already left his hometown of Tulunan, Cotabato and moved to Polomolok, South Cotabato. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Marvin Sy, John Unson