De Lima hopeful for Abadilla 5

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Saturday said she was hopeful that Malacañang would soon decide on the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) that life sentences of the so-called Abadilla 5 would be commuted.

De Lima said she sent a memorandum for President Aquino several weeks ago about the case of Lenido Lumanog, Cesar Fortuna, Joel de Jesus, Rameses de Jesus and Augusto Santos, who were convicted of killing dreaded martial law enforcer Col. Rolando Abadilla.

The five have maintained their innocence and claimed that they were tortured.

“I sent a memo several weeks ago for the President and I believe that the Deputy Executive Secretary tasked to review appeals like this is going over it. They have to review it before it is brought to the President,” De Lima said in an interview.

“I don’t think I’m at liberty to divulge the contents of the memo but I’m hoping that we would soon see action on this case,” she added.

The BPP transmitted to the Office of the President last September its recommendation seeking to have the life sentences of the convicts reduced to 16 years each.

Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta said that if the credits the five have earned for good behavior, the sentences could be considered as having been served.

Aside from the backing of the Public Attorney’s Office, the Abadilla 5 also obtained the support of the Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines for the commutation.