Monday, November 26, 2007 Reconciliation efforts with Aquinos to continue: Palace
MALACAÑANG said it will pursue the reconciliation efforts with the Aquino family despite the possible setback that the pardon of Master Sergeant Pablo Martinez, one of the 15 convicted killers of former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and Rolando Galman, may have caused.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Antonio Apostol said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's granting of a conditional pardon to Martinez did not affect the reconciliation moves between the Arroyo and Aquino camps.
"In the end we are hopeful that the family of former President Cory Aquino will understand the reasons behind the pardon," Apostol said.
He said granting a pardon is an executive privilege of the President and that Martinez deserves it because he has already turned 70 years old and is suffering from several illnesses.
"The reconciliation policy will still be pursued. At the proper time it will be pursued. Let's see," he said.
Apostol has said Arroyo was not getting back at the Aquino family when she pardoned Martinez.
"It's mainly following the administrative order and secondly because President Arroyo is a very merciful woman," he said.
He said Martinez has asked forgiveness from former President Aquino.
He said the other soldiers convicted in the Aquino-Galman case have also requested pardon but the Board of Pardons and Parole is still reviewing their cases. (JMR/Sunnex)
