Pardon board members get 6-year fixed term

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo has given members of the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) a fixed term of six years in what Malacañang said was an effort to strengthen the criminal justice system.

Mrs. Arroyo issued Executive Order 868 dated March 8, amending certain provisions of EO 154 issued in 2002.

“There is a need to further strengthen the BPP as a pillar of the Philippine criminal justice system. The number of inmates has significantly increased despite the continuing efforts at jail decongestion resulting in the increase in the number of cases for review by the Board,” the EO stated.

Officials stressed the need to ensure the continuity of reforms in the BPP, which they said is affected by changes in its leadership.

Under EO 868, a chairman, with the rank of undersecretary, will head the BPP.

The BPP will now have seven members that will include a sociologist, a clergyman, an educator, a lawyer, a retired member of the judiciary, and the administrator of the Parole and Probation Administration as ex-officio member who will have the Cabinet rank of assistant secretary.

The EO also said at least one member of the BPP must be a woman.

Members of the BPP will serve full time with a fixed term of six years and honoraria equivalent to the hiring rate of an undersecretary or Salary Grade 30.