Palace readying list of inmates for pardon

MANILA, Philippines - The Palace is readying the list of inmates to be granted executive clemency by President Aquino.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the Office of the President is deliberating on the list and an announcement on the presidential pardon may be expected this week.

“I already submitted to the President the list of recommendees for executive clemency,” she confirmed in a text message yesterday.

However, De Lima would not disclose the number of inmates included in the list pending Palace action.

The STAR earlier reported that the Bureau of Corrections had recommended some 200 inmates for pardon.

De Lima then vetted the list and submitted it to the President last week.

She earlier revealed that Aquino intends to grant executive clemency to aged, seriously ill inmates as a “gift” to the Pope when he visits the country this week.

Executive clemency, a power given to the President to pardon any prisoner as provided under Article VII Section 19 of the Constitution, pertains to reprieve, absolute or conditional pardon with or without parole conditions and commutation of sentence.

On the other hand, parole is the conditional release of a prisoner from a correctional institution after the person has served the minimum of his sentence.

Pardon is different from parole, which is granted by the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) to inmates who have served minimum period of their sentences.   

It has been the practice of Malacañang to grant executive clemency to prisoners during the Christmas season.