Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday denied allegations of the minority members of the House of Representatives that the testimonies of high-profile inmates against Senator Leila De Lima were their “[tickets] to freedom” considering that they have pending applications for pardon or executive clemency.
“Pardoning them was never considered,” Aguirre said in a text message.
Of the 12 inmates who testified before the House Committee on Justice’s investigation on the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), five have pending applications for pardon or executive clemency.
READ: Bilibid convicts vs De Lima sought pardon during Aquino’s time
The inmates with pending applications are Engelbert Durano, Nonilo Arile, Jaime Patio, Jojo Baligad and Vicente Sy.
Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano said he recently wrote to the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) to inquire about any pending applications for pardon or executive clemency from any of the convicts who testified at the House’s inquiry.
He said that the BPP told him that Durano, Patio, Baligad, Arile and Sy have pending applications.
A copy of the BPP’s response to Alejano showed that Durano and Arile’s “carpeta” or their inmate records were requested on October 27, 2015, and January 25, 2011, respectively while that of Patio was returned to the Bureau of Corrections last April 15, 2015.
Meanwhile, the status of both Baligad and Sy’s applications is “for verification of other pending cases.”
“I was never aware of their pending applications. Never brought to my attention,” Aguirre said.
But asked if he will recommend their pardon or executive clemency, Aguirre said he will have to study it first.
“Don’t know yet. I will study,” he added.
The BPP is under the control and supervision of the secretary of justice and the secretary in turn is under the control and supervision of the President.
Executive clemency can be granted by the President upon the recommendation of the BPP to grant convicts pardons, commute their sentences or defer the implementation of their sentences.
Earlier, the Department of Justice chief said the government did not promise anything to the inmates when they decided to come out in the open and disclosed what they knew about the illegal drug trade and how millions of drug money supposedly went to the campaign kitty of De Lima. RAM/rga
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