55 endorsed for executive clemency

MANILA, Philippines - Fifty-five persons, including a New Bilibid Prison inmate who killed a fellow inmate involved in the assassination of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and Rolando Galman, as well as a former child star, have been recommended for executive clemency by the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP).

The BPP yesterday released the names of the candidates together with their case numbers.

“The Board of Pardons and Parole hereby gives notice that the cases of the following prisoners shall be reviewed for the purpose of considering them for executive clemency,” BPP executive director Reynaldo Bayang stated as a foreword to the list published yesterday in major newspapers.

Among those being considered for executive clemency, to be given by President Duterte, are Manuel Ocenar, who reportedly stabbed dead fellow inmate Sgt. Cordova Estelo, who was one of the 15 soldiers convicted in the Aquino-Galman twin murder.

Oceanar, a convicted rapist, and Estelo reportedly used to be friends and worked for former Zambonga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos.

Vanessa Valenzuela Benedicto, more popularly known as child star “Sugar,” was convicted of carjacking by a Quezon City regional trial court.

Another candidate is fishpond owner Cornelio Pasco who, along with two others, was found guilty of kidnapping former tourism undersecretary Jose Clemente on May 14, 1996.

Also on the list are former Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police (PC-INP)-Antique chief Capt. John Paloy; Warlito Ibao, who was spared from the death penalty in 2004 by then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; and Norberto Antiquando, one of the four suspects who shot dead Japanese national Masayuki Kuwabara, who was his business partner.

According to Bayang, written objections/comments/ information relevant to the cases of the listed prisoners may be sent by any interested party to the BPP executive director not later than 30 days from its publication yesterday.