Pardon an injustice, vendetta, says Noynoy

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III assailed yesterday the injustice done to his family by President Arroyo for granting executive clemency to the 10 former soldiers convicted of killing his father, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and his alleged assassin Rolando Galman on Aug. 21, 1983.

The young Aquino, however, said his family had been expecting the release of the 10 convicts after the others were freed earlier. The senator lamented they could not do anything but accept that Mrs. Arroyo was no longer sympathetic to their cause after her falling-out with his mother, former President Corazon Aquino.

“It’s also part of her absolute power (to grant pardon),” Aquino said.

More than political vendetta, the senator said Mrs. Arroyo’s action could be a ground for impeachment for “betrayal of public trust and abuse of discretion.” But he admitted that any impeachment might no longer be possible at this time.

Aquino said his mother had told him not to comment on the release. He also expressed concern that people would think they did not know how to forgive.

But he insisted that the soldiers were part of a grand conspiracy to neutralize his father upon his return from exile in the United States.

Aquino also pointed out that Mrs. Arroyo was sending the wrong message because the soldiers had not confessed to their crime and had not sought forgiveness.

“They are even altering the details of history,” the senator said.

He said the President was also unfair since she had not been extending the same compassion or humanitarian grounds to other prisoners, such as a prisoner who stole a coconut.

He cited the testimony of former Senior Police Officer 4 Ruben Cantimbuhan, which he said indicated that the soldiers were part of the conspiracy.

Cantimbuhan, who was the driver of the van that carried the late senator’s body, said former Air Force Captain Felipe Valerio Jr. was the key to the case because he served as leader of the 10-man Aviation Security Command (Avsecom) unit assigned to secure his father upon his return.

Cantimbuhan said the orders of Valerio puzzled him because he was asked to drive to the Philippine Army hospital that was quite far instead of bringing the late senator’s body to a nearer medical facility so he could be saved.

He said then Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Fabian Ver and other military officials congratulated them for a job well done when the person they were supposed to secure was killed.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. expressed belief that Mrs. Arroyo granted the pardon as a way of getting back at Mrs. Aquino, who had become the President’s critic after withdrawing support from her.

Pimentel said Mrs. Arroyo must be fair and start reviewing the records of all those qualified to be freed.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who served under the Marcos administration, said the release was just right because the soldiers had paid their debts being the least guilty among those who planned and executed the killings of the late senator and Galman.

Enrile and Sen. Joker Arroyo said the Aquino family must go after the masterminds of the killings and not focus on the small players.

“I sympathize with Ninoy’s death but they have suffered enough. They have been in jail for too long. It’s about time they are released with their families. They are old, some have died and others are sick,” Enrile said.