Noynoy mulls charges vs gov’t officials if another Ninoy killer freed

The son of martyred Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. threatened yesterday to file criminal and administrative charges against members of the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) and other government officials should another convicted killer of his father be set free.

Sen. Benigno Aquino III said his lawyers would file the “necessary charges” if former sergeant Felizardo Alay-ay Taran, one of those convicted of his father’s murder, is released from prison.

He said they were now studying the legal aspects of the case.

Aquino said Republic Act 9346, which abolished the death penalty, does not allow parole to persons convicted of offenses punishable with reclusion perpetua or whose sentences will be reduced to reclusion perpetua.

Based on the BPP’s rules and regulations, parole cannot be granted to those convicted of an offense punishable by death, reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment, he added.

Taran is serving life imprisonment at the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa.

Aquino said the BPP’s rules and regulations set forth the basis for parole:

• Gravity of the offense and manner in which it was committed;

• Preferred age of at least 60 years old and;

• The prisoner’s attitude towards the offense and the degree of his remorse.

Taran is only 58 years old and his role in the slaying of his father was grave and “brutal,” and that he has not even displayed remorse, he added.

Through his lawyer, Eulalio Diaz II, Aquino wrote BPP Executive Director Reynaldo Bayang, warning him about the legal implications of Taran’s purported release.

“We reiterate our position that Mr. Taran is ineligible for parole,” read the letter.

“Furthermore, given the nature of his participation in the assassination of Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr., a person of national stature, we hope that you will agree with us that even if he were eligible for parole, there are convicts who would be more deserving of such a privilege than him.”

The BPP earlier sought comments from the office of Aquino on Taran’s release.

Last November, President Arroyo granted conditional pardon to former sergeant Pablo Martinez, another convicted killer of Ninoy Aquino.

Now 70 years old. Martinez, who has been in prison for 24 years, was among the 15 people convicted of the killing of Aquino and his military-tagged assassin, Rolando Galman on Aug. 21, 1983.

He was convicted by the Sandiganbayan for two counts of murder and sentenced, as adjusted, to 40 years imprisonment and ordered to pay P8.38 million in damages.

Others convicted in the Aquino-Galman murders are former captain Romeo Bautista, former first lieutenant Jesus Castro, and former sergeants Rodolfo Desolong, Filomeno Miranda, Claro Lat, Ernesto Mateo, Arnulfo Artates, Rolando de Guzman, Ruben Aquino, Arnulfo de Mesa, Rogelio Moreno, and Mario Lazaga.

The 15th convict, Cordova Estelo, died in 2006.