Another Ninoy killer dies in prison

MANILA, Philippines – One of the 16 soldiers convicted in the Aquino-Galman double murder case died yesterday morning after suffering a stroke while in detention inside the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City.

Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta, chief of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), confirmed that Sergeant Mario Lazaga, 57, who was confined at the maximum detention cell, died at around 7:15 a.m.

Lazaga was already comatose Wednesday.

Acosta said Lazaga, who was suffering from severe hypertension, was also diabetic. “He has long been under medication. In fact, the PAO has been supplying him with medicine he badly needs. We actually left him medicine enough for three weeks’ use and just advised him to ask assistance from the NBP Hospital in case he runs out,” she said.

The PAO chief lamented that the executive clemency they have been waiting for the convicted soldiers, including Lazaga, has not yet materialized and that the prisoner died hoping he could be released soon.

Atty. Howard Areza, Head Executive Assistant of PAO, said they last visited Lazaga a month ago. “We noticed that his health condition was already getting serious.”

He added Lazaga was often admitted to the prison infirmary.

Sgt. Lazaga’s medical abstract, together with those of his fellow convicts, has already been submitted by the PAO to the Board of Pardons and Parole.

“The medical abstracts were certified by the physicians of the Department of Health on January 9, 2008 and the Bureau of Corrections on February 13, 2008, as witnessed by Capt. Martin Diño of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption,” Acosta noted.

For 25 years, Lazaga had reportedly beenconsistent in invoking that they were innocent. “Justice and freedom have been elusive to these men. However in death, Lazaga has been given divine justice and eternal freedom,” the PAO statement read.

The PAO expressed hope that the remaining 12 soldiers in prison who are also sickly, would soon be released by virtue of executive clemency.

Acosta said the soldiers are already qualified for presidential pardon since they already served more than 24 years in prison.

Master Sergeant Pablo Martinez, a colleague of Lazaga, was released from detention November last year.

Just like Lazaga, the 70-year-old Martinez has also become sickly.

Martinez is said to be suffering from hypertension, diabetes and ulcer.

President Arroyo granted Martinez conditional pardon based on her declaration that inmates who reach the age of 70 are eligible for pardon and should eventually be released from prison.

Convicted with Martinez and Lazaga on Sept. 28, 1990 were Brig. Gen. Luther Custodio, Airman 1st Class Cordova Estelo, Capt. Romeo Bautista, 2nd Lt. Jesus Castro, and Sergeants Claro Lat, Arnulfo de Mesa, Filomeno Miranda, Rolando de Guzman, Ernesto Mateo, Rodolfo Desolong, Ruben Aquino and Arnulfo Artates, supposed gunman Constable Rogelio Moreno, and A1C Felizardo Taran.

The Supreme Court affirmed their conviction on July 23, 1991.

Two other convicts have already died in detention. Custodio died of cancer in prison in 1991, while Estelo was stabbed dead by another inmate in 2005.