Convict Antonio may get parole?

The Arroyo government is considering reducing the 14-year jail term of inmate Alberto "Ambet" Antonio, a very close friend of former President Joseph Estrada who was convicted for the November 1996 slaying of former basketball player Arnulfo Tuadles.

Highly-reliable sources revealed the former chairman of the Games and Amusement Board is now "qualified" for commutation of sentence because he has served more than one-third of his 10-year minimum jail term.

"Antonio has already served with excellent conduct, more than five years, including good conduct time allowances and other credits due him," the insider revealed, citing rules of the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP).

The Pasig City Regional Court meted Antonio a life term for the Tuadles’ murder, but this was modified by the Supreme Court on appeal, saying the offense was just homicide (‘twas a spur of the moment’) and imposed a 14-year jail term.

Tuadles, 40, was shot between the eyes during All Soul’s Day in 1996 when he and Antonio were playing cards at Club 419 in Greenhills, San Juan, an exclusive club named after the April 19 birthday of the ex-president, also one of the town’s former mayors.

BPP officials are set to recommend to President Arroyo the reduction of Antonio’s sentence. The Chief Executive has the sole authority to grant executive clemencies, among them pardon, parole and commutation of sentence.

It will be up to Arroyo, however, whether to sign the recommendation, since she has the final say. Antonio, his family and the Estradas, including detained former San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, are very close until now.

Before former President Estrada was impeached on November 2000, rumors had it that it was actually he who pulled the trigger, but his estranged buddy former Ilocos Norte Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson refused to confirm or deny the allegations. – Delon Porcalla