US government interfering in Rowe killers’ case?

A high-ranking official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the United States government’s position against the grant of pardon to the two convicted killers of US Col. James Rowe might be interpreted as "interference" in the country’s "legislative and executive decision-making."

The DFA official, who requested anonymity, revealed that the US Embassy recently sent another note verbale requesting that convicts Donato Continente and Juanito Itaas be excluded from the list of political detainees whom the Arroyo government would pardon.

Former US Ambassador to Manila Thomas Hubbard, in a meeting with President Arroyo and DFA officials, also reiterated the US position on the matter, the source said.

"We can consider the US request but we cannot tolerate interference all the time," the source added.

Continente and Itaas were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Rowe and the near killing of Rowe’s driver in an ambush by the Alex Boncayao Brigade in Quezon City in 1989.

Since the term of former President Fidel Ramos, Continente has been nominated for pardon after the Supreme Court downgraded his role in the Rowe murder from principal to accomplice.

Continente’s jail term was subsequently reduced to a minimum of 12 years and six months to a maximum of 17 years.

Itaas, meanwhile, was still held primarily responsible for Rowe’s murder.