Palace reviewing 2nd list of inmates for pardon

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has submitted to Malacañang a second list of inmates from national prisons who may be given clemency by President Aquino.

“Secretary De Lima submitted a second list that is still being reviewed,” a source disclosed yesterday.

However, it was not known if it is an amended list of the more than 200 inmates recommended for pardon by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Prior to Pope Francis’ visit to the country, the Bureau of Pardons and Parole – an agency under the DOJ – had submitted to De Lima the list of elderly and ailing inmates for release.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas had earlier urged Aquino to grant aged and sick prisoners clemency as a gift to the pontiff.

Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said yesterday the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs (ODESLA) under Mike Aguinaldo is still going over the documents.

“The list is being reviewed by ODESLA. It cannot simply be perfunctory because there’s an occasion. They’re doing complete staff work and diligence to ensure that the decision of the President will be fair and just,” Coloma said.

He said the Chief Executive wanted to make sure that those on the list are qualified for pardon.

 “If the primary consideration will be the pope’s visit, the objective (of granting executive clemency) will be lessened,” the Palace official said in an interview at the Villamor Air Base.

“We don’t want omissions or error in judgment. In due time, the President will act on that issue,” Coloma added.