The ‘Ninoy 12’ seek pardon, forgiveness in Muntinlupa Mass
By Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:20:00 08/22/2008
MANILA, Philippines—As the family of slain opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. offered Masses for his 25th death anniversary, the men convicted of murdering him also prayed and cherished hopes that someday, they too would walk free.
In a simple Mass at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Thursday morning, Fr. Robert Reyes appealed to the Aquino family to have pity on the “Ninoy 12”—the soldiers serving sentences in connection with the assassination in 1983.
Pointing out that former President Cory Aquino, the slain senator’s widow, has forgiven the soldiers, Reyes asked Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to pardon his father’s supposed killers, who are dying one by one.
“This Mass, in time with Ninoy’s 25th death anniversary, is to appeal to the Aquinos, especially to Noynoy, to forgive and pardon the remaining soldiers in the Aquino-Galman murders,” Reyes said.
“They have maintained their innocence and yet they are dying one by one. We wish for them to have endurance and patience as concerned groups work for their release,” the priest added.
The Mass was held at almost the same time the August Twenty One Movement was offering prayers at the St. John Bosco Church in Makati Thursday morning.
Serious flaws and abuses
In his homily before inmates at the NBP, Reyes surmised that had Ninoy been alive today, the opposition leader would surely heed the cry of the 12 remaining soldiers.
“He was a lawyer well aware of the problems of the justice system during the Marcos era. If Ninoy were alive, he would surely be most concerned about the serious flaws and abuses in the justice system. If he were alive, he would surely heed the cry of [the] men,” the priest said. (Ninoy was not a lawyer. -Ed.)
In a phone interview, Reyes pointed out that “the innocent criminals in jail, the Ninoy 12 included, continue to languish because the real culprits want them to suffer.”
“In fact, celebrated cases like the Aquino-Galman case and the Abadilla 5 are luckier than most, because they merit some attention, while the unknowns have none,” Reyes added.
Reopen case
Reyes also prayed for the eventual reopening of the Aquino-Galman case in order for justice to be truly served, not just for the Aquino families but also for his supposed killers.
“We cannot allow anyone, whether innocent or guilty, to suffer for the crimes of those who evade justice because of the power and influence they wield,” he said in his homily.
“I heed Ninoy’s advice, to criticize in order to be free, because only when we criticize can we be free. Twenty-five years may seem far too short as punishment for heinous crimes but what can we say if innocent men languish this long or even longer?” the priest asked.
The aging Ninoy 12 soldiers incarcerated at the national penitentiary—earlier asked President Macapagal-Arroyo for clemency, and for the Aquinos to forgive them for a crime they claimed they never committed.
Aside from praying for the soldiers, Reyes blessed the sick members of the Ninoy 12 who also attended Thursday’s Mass.
Last year, M/Sgt. Pablo Martinez was granted pardon and was able to walk out of prison a month before Christmas.
But in March this year, another one of the soldiers died—57-year-old Sgt. Mario Lasaga, who succumbed to a heart attack in prison.
|
