Manero to GMA: Restore commuted sentence

DAVAO CITY — Convicted priest-killer Norberto Manero Jr. is asking President Arroyo to restore his commuted sentence which former President Fidel Ramos granted him but which ousted President Joseph Estrada later revoked, along with his conditional pardon with parole conditions.

Manero’s counsel Rogelio Garcia said they are filing a formal request with the Office of the President.

"We are asking President Arroyo to reconsider Estrada’s order since the commutation was granted by Mr. Ramos in his sovereign act as head of the Republic," Garcia said.

Manero was meted a life sentence for the 1985 killing of Italian priest Tullio Favali in Tulunan, Sultan Kudarat. Mr. Ramos commuted his sentence to 16 years in 1992.

Last year, Estrada granted him conditional pardon with parole conditions, but later revoked this and also canceled his commuted sentence after he (Manero) was found to have a pending warrant of arrest for the 1977 killings of brothers Ali and Mamwabtan Mamalumpong.

Meanwhile, Judge Jaime Infante of Sarangani Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 38 gave yesterday prosecutors five days within which to formally file their offer of exhibits for the Mamalumpong case.

Garcia said the defense will immediately file a motion seeking to dismiss the case and a demurrer to evidence against Manero.

Manero was not able to attend yesterday’s hearing in Sarangani after Alfredo Gozon, director of the Davao Penal Colony (Dapecol) where Manero is detained, refused to bring him out of the penal colony unless there was an exemption from the Supreme Court.

Gozon said the law provides that the High Court should approve the transport for court hearings of inmates sentenced to death or life.

Dapecol officials have tightened security on Manero who has bolted jail thrice, the most recent of which was last March 22 when he escaped from the Sarangani Rehabilitation Center.

Garcia said they will probably request that Manero be transferred to the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City after the Mamalumpong case is resolved.

"We will be asking for his transfer because he is still serving his sentence on the Favali case," he said.