Thursday, July 27, 2006
Arroyo gives clemency to 9 sick prisoners (10:22 a.m.)
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has granted conditional pardon to nine inmates convicted for drug-related offenses following serious medical conditions ranging from late stages of pulmonary tuberculosis and heart diseases to cancers and brain tumor.
The nine, composed of two females and seven males, are aged between 26 and 73. They have been languishing in prison from four years, one month and 27 days to 16 years, 11 months and 13 days.
Two of the nine, who are said to be "dying already", are Andrea Labajo, 54, who is suffering from carniotony to brain tumor, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus II[; and and Antonio Lee, 65, who was diagnosed with pancreatic mass malignancy choleccystitis.
The others are Alma Rizalado, 36, diagnosed with rectal carcinoma stage 11 dubes b, S/P signoidectomy; Andro Labajo, 26 who is suffering from PTB, schizophrenia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Renato Salao, 43, with diabetes mellitus, pneumonia and diabetic neuropathy; Fortunato Mejilla, 45, with PTB stage IV; Rigelio Milado, 60, with hypertension; Antonio Comia, 64, with diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart hypertension; and Rodolfo Andres, 73, with ischemic heart disease.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the prolonged imprisonment of the nine are detrimental to their health. (JMR) |
