In a simple but emotional ceremony at the CIW compound in Mandaluyong City, the 11 grandmothers bid good-bye to their fellow inmates with hugs, kisses and tears. The inmates were clad in regulation orange uniforms.
Though both the released grannies and the inmates they left behind want to see each other again, they are hoping that their next meeting will be outside the cold bars of jail.
Dionesiana Alianza, 55, who has been detained at CIW for eight years, could not hold back her tears as she told The STAR how excited she was to be back with her children and grandchildren in Tanza, Cavite.
It was during her detention of eight years that Alianza lost both her legs — the left leg was amputated above the knee and the right leg was cut off below the knee — due to diabetes.
Alianza was convicted of 20 counts of estafa involving P7.5 million, but she insists she is innocent and could not have gotten the money she was accused of embezzling: "If I really had the money, I should be a millionaire and I shouldn’t be in here. If I have done any wrong, then I hope they will forgive me."
She was met by her equally happy children, relatives and friends, including a couple who came all the way from Pangasinan just to see her.
Alianza was quick to give thanks: "Salamat po kay President GMA, kay Superintendent Ruelo at sa lahat sa inyo. Hindi ko po malaman kung paano kayo pasasalamatan (Thank you to President Arroyo, CIW Superintendent Rachel Ruelo and all of you. I do not know how to thank you)."
She said Ruelo and her staff had been kind to the CIW inmates, adding that, "when I was taken to the hospital to have my legs amputated, CIW personnel were with me as if they were my children, taking care of me."
Alianza’s appreciation for her newfound freedom was echoed by other CIW inmates granted executive clemency by the President.
Granted conditional pardons through executive clemency along with Alianza were Ma. Christina Aguilar, 55; Bonna Custodio, Christina Lozano, Eden Ocampo, Regina Singco, Zenaida Alvarez, 73; Francisca Cagsawa, 70; Melba Espiritu, 72, and Pangandongan Mama, 71.
The pardoned grandmothers wore wide smiles on their faces, their eyes moist with tears, signs of their relief, gratitude and anticipation of being reunited with their families.
Ruelo said the CIW management is very happy over the President’s decision to grant executive clemency to these inmates: "We are happy too. It means less burden for us CIW personnel, who have been taking care of them, particularly the old ones and those with terminal illnesses like cancer. It’s been hard to make both ends meet with the limited resources, in terms of cash and medicine."
Ruelo is thankful that some non-government organizations, like the Inner Wheel Club of the Philippines (IWCP), whose members are wives of members of the Rotary Club of Philippines, and Zonta Club, help the CIW in cash and in kind.
Before the grandmothers were released, Fr. Carmelo Esteban celebrated Mass at the CIW chapel in time for the Catholic celebration of the Feast of the Holy Family.
The chapel was festooned with Christmas decorations, including a "Belen" complete with an infant Jesus in the manger flanked by the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, the Three Kings and angels.
As soon as Fr. Esteban led the song Papuri sa Diyos (Praise be to God), tears rolled down the cheeks of the grandmothers. They held hands while singing the Ama Namin (Lord’s Prayer) and kissed and hugged each other after the Mass.
"Life is full of uncertainty. One thing is certain, that God will always be with us. God loves us all," said Esteban in his homily. It was the grandmothers who brought gifts for the offertory.
According to IWCP president Liza Elorde, the 11 grandmothers were the third batch to be released through executive clemency in the last two months.
"We are happy that we initiated our program "Laya na si Lola" (Grandmother is Free) four years ago. We see to it that, as they walk out of jail, they have something they can bring to their families like gifts and groceries," Elorde said.
Elorde said the grandmothers’ release from jail is "very rewarding and emotionally uplifting" for her and the rest of the IWCP members. "They were crying, but we are sure that those tears were tears of joy."
The Cabraleses have been serving life sentences since 1998 for the murder of her son-in-law — a crime she said they never committed.
Rebecca said her eldest son has been handicapped since birth. He has no legs and Rebecca is seeking donations from generous souls so her son may be fitted with artificial legs.
The Cabrales family, which hails from Pangasinan, was accused of killing Rebecca’s son-in-law and burning his body. Rebecca said they are innocent of the crime, adding that the basis of their conviction was the coached testimony of her grandchildren.
"Now my grandchildren have grown up and my lawyer told me that they have retracted their testimony against us," Rebecca said in Filipino. "We don’t know what to do, we are illiterate, they said the Supreme Court can reverse our conviction. We hope the judges would prioritize our case."