Rolito Go, other high-profile cons not on clemency list

Rolito Go: Not on the list. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Convicted road rage killer Rolito Go, or any other “high-profile” prisoner, will not be among those to be recommended for executive clemency on the occasion of Pope Francis’ visit to the country next week, the head of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said on Tuesday.

BuCor Director Franklin Bucayu told reporters that no prominent prisoners had been recommended for the privilege to President Aquino, who is planning on granting clemency to aged and ailing inmates at the national penitentiary as a gift to Pope Francis during the latter’s visit here next week.

“It’s difficult if [the inmate is] high-profile. Many will surely object and we don’t want that those who deserve [to be granted clemency] will suffer. If there are prominent names in the list, and it gets immediately disapproved, the others on the list will also share the same fate.”

In the case of Go, Bucayu recalled that the convict had been recommended for clemency in the past but the family of Go’s victim always posed an objection.

“Although he’s seriously ill, or even if his cancer was already terminal or stage 4, there was opposition from the family of the victim so we considered that [in coming out with our recommendation],” Bucayu told reporters.

“He is really pitiful. He frequently goes to the hospital and he has tubes connected to his body,” Bucayu added.

Go was convicted of shooting student Eldon Maguan in 1991 during a traffic altercation in San Juan. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment two years later.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier said she would be submitting to the President Wednesday the list of prisoners recommended for parole, pardon or commutation of sentence.

Meanwhile, a Department of Justice official said Aquino had asked that the list of recommendees be increased.

“The President wanted to grant clemency to many convicts because this will be his gift to the Pope,” said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to speak to the media.

“In fact, the procedures of the Parole and Pardons Administration were not observed in the rush to put more names on the list. This is the main reason we didn’t recommend, for now, prominent prisoners,” the source added.