149 more inmates under review for pardon

MANILA, Philippines - The Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) is vetting 149 more inmates who may be granted executive clemency.

In a public notice published in The STAR yesterday, the BPP listed the names of the candidates for presidential pardon and invited the public to participate in the vetting process.

BPP executive director Reynaldo Bayang said interested parties may send written objections, comments or information relevant to the cases of the convicts not later than 30 days from date of publication.

The new list brought to 234 the total number of inmates currently being reviewed by the board, which also announced last month it was reviewing the cases of 85 other inmates applying for presidential pardon. 

Last Nov. 27, the BPP  recommended 47 inmates for executive clemency. The decision, however, remains pending at the Palace. 

President Aquino had wanted to grant the executive clemency to qualified inmates during Pope Francis’ visit as a “gift” to the pontiff. 

The Bureau of Corrections and Department of Justice submitted a list of inmates recommended for pardon, but the Palace was not able to finish the vetting before the Pope left last Jan. 19.

The Palace then said the President would thoroughly review the list before issuing the decision. 

Executive clemency – a power given to the President to pardon any prisoner – is provided for under Article VII, Section 19 of the Constitution. It means 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. 

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