MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte Tuesday granted absolute pardon to actor and staunch supporter Robin Padilla, who was convicted for illegal possession of firearms in 1994.
Duterte noted that while Padilla was pardoned for the offense before, it was not absolute.
“I just granted pardon in favor of Robin Padilla because his original pardon did not include full restoration of political and civil rights, therefore he could not travel, he could not get a permit… to possess a gun again,” the president told reporters in Malacañan Tuesday night.
“My pardon involves full restoration of his civil and political rights,” he added.
Asked why he decided to grant absolute pardon to Padilla, Duterte he replied: “That crime did not hurt anyone. I mean if it is a gun, just like the knife, if it sharp it is potentially sharp, put that on the table and it won’t harm anyone if you don’t touch it.”
The pardon was discussed during Padilla’s meeting with Duterte Tuesday also in Malacañan.
Padilla was convicted for illegal possession of firearms in 1994 but was released from jail four years later because of a pardon granted by then President Fidel Ramos.