200 inmates eyed for pardon; Rolito Go not in list

MANILA, Philippines - About 200 inmates are being considered for pardon by President Aquino, but murder convict Rolito Go is not one of them.

Go, reportedly terminally ill while serving sentence at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa, would not benefit from Aquino’s “mercy and compassion.”

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director Franklin Jesus Bucayu confirmed that Go was excluded from the list of aged and seriously ill inmates being recommended for executive clemency.

“We already submitted the list to (Justice) Secretary (Leila) De Lima. He (Go) is not included,” Bucayu told reporters yesterday.

The BuCor chief explained that the high-profile convict who has been at the NBP for over 21 years could have qualified because he has stage four colon cancer.

“But we have to consider the strong opposition. We also want to speed up this process in time for the visit of Pope Francis and inclusion of high-profile and controversial inmates could raise some issues and cause delays in the process,” he stressed.

Go has reportedly been brought to the hospital several times due to his condition.

The construction magnate was convicted for shooting to death De La Salle University graduate Eldon Maguan in a road rage incident in 1991. The 25-year-old Maguan was driving along Wilson Street in Greenhills, San Juan when he had a traffic altercation with Go, who was going the wrong way on a one-way street.

In 1993, Go was found guilty by the San Juan City regional trial court for murder and sentenced to 40 years in prison.

The STAR learned that the BuCor has submitted an initial list of prisoners for exclusive clemency, but Aquino asked for a longer one.

De Lima, now vetting the list to be submitted to the President, earlier revealed that the latter intends to grant executive clemency to selected inmates as a “gift” to Pope Francis when he visits the country next week.

Executive clemency, which is a power given to the President to pardon any prisoner, provided for under Article VII, Section 19 of the Constitution, pertains to reprieve, absolute or conditional pardon with or without parole conditions and commutation of sentence.

The grant of executive pardon by the President is expected a few days before the visit of Pope Francis in the country next week.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas lauded President Aquino’s act to exercise his constitutional power to grant executive clemency in favor of elderly, sick and long interned prisoners. – With Eva Visperas