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Thursday, December 20, 2007
Arroyo pardons 64 aging convicts
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday granted pardon to 64 convicts aged 70 and above.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the pardon would bring to 258 the total number of pardoned prisoners as of January 2007.
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Among those pardoned Wednesday, 30 were convicted of rape, nine of homicide, and four were charged with drug-related crimes.
Two foreign nationals were also included in the list of pardoned inmates. They were Japanese Yokitoshi Matsushita and Chinese Ang Chun Kit alias Romy Ang.
Matsushita was convicted of rape while Ang was jailed due to drug-related crimes.
The gravest rape case was that of Leon Soncados Sr., 71. He was charged with nine counts of rape.
The oldest released inmate, also convicted of rape, was 85-year-old Celestino Gardon.
Bunye said Wednesday there are 12 more names of convicts that have been submitted to the President for possible commutation of sentence in time for the Christmas season. However, the crimes of the 12 convicts were not immediately known.
Bunye also quoted President Arroyo as saying that: "Prisoners are people. They deserve as much compassion, if not more humane treatment, as those living in a free society."
He said the President is hopeful that society will welcome the pardoned convicts back and give them a second chance to live their lives as useful citizens.
Of the 258 released inmates this year, he said 137 were granted pardon by reason of old age (70 years old above), 48 because of serious medical condition, and 73 upon the recommendation of Board of Pardons and Parole.
Bunye said four of the pardoned convicts this year were above 80 years old while one, a certain Rodolfo Pante, was 91 years old. (JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (December 20, 2007 issue)
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