Larrañaga plea for pardon denied

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has denied the plea for pardon of Francisco Juan “Paco” Larrañaga, one of the seven men convicted for the rape-slay of sisters Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong.

DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima revealed yesterday that the Board of Pardons and Parole has denied the application for executive clemency of Larrañaga, whose case became controversial last year with the belated release of the documentary “Give Up Tomorrow” that suggested his innocence in the 1997 case.

“Larrañaga has not met the minimum requirements, particularly the minimum years of prison sentence already served,” De Lima said in a text message.

Larrañaga, who obtained Spanish citizenship from his father, was transferred to a penal facility in Spain in October 2009 by virtue of a prisoner exchange treaty between the Philippines and Spain.