Robin, 86 others eyed for executive clemency

MANILA, Philippines - The Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) under the Department of Justice will review the cases of 87 inmates, including movie and television actor Robin Padilla, for the possible grant of executive clemency by President Duterte.

In a notice signed by BPP executive director Reynaldo Bayang and published in The STAR yesterday, the board released the names of the prisoners recommended for executive clemency.

Padilla, who is Robinhood Ferdinand Cariño Padilla in real life, is listed as No. 61 – N95P-2112.

Padilla was convicted by the Angeles City regional trial court for illegal possession of high-powered firearms in April 1994 and sentenced up to 21 years in prison.

He served three years at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa. In April 1997, then president Fidel Ramos granted him conditional pardon.

Padilla’s conditional pardon expired in 2003, according to his lawyer Rudolf Jurado.

“He is eligible to apply for absolute pardon,” Jurado said in a phone interview.

If the actor is given executive clemency, Jurado said Padilla’s civil rights, including his right to vote and run for public office, would be restored.

“He could not renew his passport whenever he has invitations for projects abroad because he still has criminal record here,” Jurado said.

The lawyer said he filed the requirements for his client’s application for executive clemency last week.

“I forced him to sign the document,” Jurado said.

He said Padilla was hesitant to seek absolute pardon from Duterte as the public might think that the actor would be given special favor for supporting the President in the last elections.

Padillla supported Duterte’s campaign in Mindanao.

Executive clemency is a power given to the President to pardon prisoners under Article VII, Section 19 of the Constitution.

It pertains to reprieve, absolute or conditional pardon with or without parole conditions and commutation of sentence.

Parole is the conditional release of an inmate from prison after the person has served the minimum sentence.

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

Photo shows the name of the actor can be seen on a published notice showing the list of prisoners being reviewed for possible executive clemency.

Padilla visits House officials

Padilla, meanwhile, visited Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and other House officials on Wednesday.

“It was just a courtesy call. He also conveyed his support for the campaign for federalism,” Alvarez said.

Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said, “I didn’t see him nor was I there. I really have no idea (on the purpose of his visit) and I only learned about it from posts on social media.”

Responding to questions, Fariñas said a presidential pardon does not require the approval of Congress.

“A pardon is the President’s sole prerogative and is given after conviction. It erases the penalty of the person or convict. An amnesty is an act of Congress and is given before conviction, even before trial. It erases the crime or offense,” he said.

Shaded ballot

Last May, Padilla filed online libel charges against a netizen who shared a photo of a shaded ballot allegedly posted by the actor on social media.

Padilla filed a complaint for oral defamation against a Twitter user identified only as a certain “Miss Krizzy,” who goes by the username @krizzy_kalerqui.

The netizen bashed Padilla and called him an ex-convict.

The photograph, which was immediately deleted online, showed Padilla’s alleged ballot with votes for Duterte and AMIN party-list. 

In a complaint filed with the National Bureau of Investigation-Cyber Crime Division, Padilla’s lawyer maintained that the actor did not violate any election rules.

“Padilla is not a registered voter due to complications caused by his prior conviction. As such, he could neither acquire an official ballot nor enter a voting precinct,” Jurado said in a previous statement.

Padilla’s wife, Mariel Rodriguez, defended the actor and said it was impossible for her husband to commit the election violation since he could not vote. – With Jess Diaz