Death convicts back in isolation

Death convicts Roberto Lara and Roderick Licayan returned to isolation at the death row building of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) yesterday, 15 days before the deadline of the Supreme Court for a ruling on the motion to reopen the kidnapping cases against them.

NBP superintendent Venacio Tesoro said Lara and Licayan must be isolated, based on the rules, since the SC has yet to decide on the motion to reopen their cases.

"We have to stick to the process," he said. "Technically speaking, Lara and Licayan are set to be executed on Feb. 27."

Tesoro earlier admitted to The STAR that they are confused as to which court set the schedule for execution, specifically in the cases of Lara and Licayan, after the intervention of the Supreme Court.

"According to the rules, it is the lower court that issues the warrant or date of execution," he said. "But, in this case, the high court has ordered a 30-day suspension of their executions."

Speaking for groups opposed to the death penalty, Maria Socorro "Cookie" Diokno, secretary general of the free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), said whatever ruling the SC hands down, the cases of Lara and Licayan will have to go back to the lower court for another warrant of execution.

But, for Tesoro, "even if the Supreme Court favors the appeal to reopen the case after Wednesday, Lara and Licayan must be isolated from other inmates." — Edu Punay