MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III has granted executive clemency to eight elderly inmates aged 71 to 85.
Six of the eight inmates were granted "conditional pardon with parole conditions" and the sentences of the remaining two were commuted.
The six inmates granted with conditional pardon were:
- Agustin A. Caballero, 71, in jail for more than nine years
- Nicanor B. Medel, 72, imprisoned for more than nine years and four months, sickly and now partially paralyzed after suffering from a hypertension attack
- Clarita L. Miranda, 71, imprisoned for more than 11 years and eight months
- Pablito L. Estrada, 73, imprisoned for more than 11 years and 10 months
- Felipe I. Gahit, Sr., 72, imprisoned for more than eight years and 11 months
- Venerando G. Generalo, 83, imprisoned for more than ten years and four months.
The conditions imposed for the six old inmates' pardon include: avoiding injurious or vicious habits, places or persons of disreputable or harmful character and avoid committing any crime and they should always conduct themselves in an orderly manner.
The two inmates whose sentences were commuted were:
- Aurelio O. Amolong, who was originally sentenced to suffer an indeterminate prison term of six years and one day up to ten years, had his sentence commuted to four years to nine years, but his obligation to pay the death indemnity of P50,000 stands. He is now 85 and has been in prison for more than four years and nine months;
- Celerino T. Sanchez, who was originally sentenced to suffer an indeterminate prison term of eight years and one month up to 15 years, had his sentence commuted to five years to ten years, but his obligation to pay the death indemnity of P165,000 stands. He is now 82 and has been in prison for more than five years and ten months.
Having served the minimum of their imprisonment sentence, as commuted, they become eligible to apply for parole and, should they successfully qualify, may thereafter be released on parole.
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said that five of the six inmates granted conditional pardon were released on Dec. 22, 2012.
However, the release of the sixth inmate "was temporarily deferred awaiting the schedule of ship that will ferry him to his destination…."
"This humanitarian act on the part of the President is a signal that the recognition of the principle of restorative justice prevails in our justice system," Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said.
The BuCor is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice.
"We don't only wish to give these inmates the gift of freedom, but also to give them and their loved ones the opportunity to spend this period of time together as a family. After all, that is what Christmas is about to us Filipinos: family, love and forgiveness," De Lima added.