Oldest political prisoner released from Bilibid prison

Gerardo dela Peña —PHOTO FROM KAPATID

MANILA, Philippines—The oldest political prisoner has been released from the New Bilibid Prison.

Human rights group Kapatid said 85-year-old Gerardo Dela Peña finally walked out of prison following a continuous campaign for his freedom on humanitarian grounds.

Kapatid spokesperson Fides Lim said Dela Peña was picked up by his son Melchor last June 30 at 9:30 p.m.

Dela Peña was arrested on March 21, 2013, and convicted at age 75 for murder. To date, he still maintains his innocence.

“We are very happy that Tatay Gerry can finally return home to his family and reunite with his wife Pilar in their twilight years. His release is a milestone for human rights campaigns, but also serves as a stark reminder of the obstacles that impede the release of political prisoners,” said Lim.

“Tatay Gerry’s journey to freedom was very difficult because of systemic challenges and bureaucratic delays. It’s concerning why the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) could not immediately implement its own Board Resolution No. OT-08-02-2023 allowing executive clemency for prisoners who have reached 70 years old and served ten years of their sentence,” she added.

Lim also said Dela Peña overserved his commuted sentence.

“The fact is, Tatay Gerry, had already overserved his commuted sentence, serving exactly 12 years and two months as of June 12, aside from the good conduct time allowance he accrued. Every additional minute behind bars is a gross injustice for an innocent man,” she said.

She thanked Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for facilitating Dela Peña’s release as well as the Commission on Human Rights.