Gov’t Eyes Pardon for Sick, Elderly Prisoners before Pope’s Visit

A list of inmates who would likely receive executive clemency from the President has been drawn up by the Department of Justice days before Pope Francis arrives in the country for a five-day visit.

In a report, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said she gave the DOJ a “self-imposed” deadline of until Wednesday to submit the list to Malacañang.

De Lima, however, did not reveal how many Bilibid inmates stand a chance to be included on the list.

She said the President has the last say who among those on the list would get clemency, as the President has “plenary and absolute power of executive clemency.”

De Lima added it depends on the President how many of those recommendees would really be granted executive clemency and what form of executive clemency may be granted to them. She assured the public that elderly inmates and those who are terminally ill would get prioritized by the President.

She also said she expected to get the list from the Bureau of Corrections and members of a DOJ technical staff Tuesday and would be reviewing the list before sending it to the President’s office.

Aquino has committed to review and approve the list of NBP inmates in time for the papal visit from Jan. 15 to 19, report said, in light of an appeal from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines for him to grant clemency to sick, old, and abandoned prisoners.

Source: GMA News Online