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Monday, April 14, 2008
Teodoro, Esperon endorse pardon for convicted mutineers
MANILA -- Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. endorsed Sunday to President Arroyo the granting of executive clemency to nine junior officers convicted of the crime of coup d'etat.
The military's recommendation came after the nine junior officers apologized to the public and appealed for the President's pardon. They are Captains Gerardo Gambala, Milo Maestrecampo, John Andres, Albert Baloloy, Alvin Ebreo and Lawrence Louis Somera and 1st Lieutenants Cleo Donga-as and Florentino Somera Jr. and 2nd Lieutenant Kristopher Bryan Yasay.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Gambala and Maestrecampo were sentenced to life imprisonment last week in connection with the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in July 2003. The seven others got six to 12 years.
However, Teodoro said the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have found sufficient reasons for endorsing to the President the grant of pardon.
"The power of the President under the Constitution to grant executive clemency is absolute once the conditions for the granting pardon are already present," said Teodoro.
Since there is already a conviction, he said the junior officers are qualified for executive clemency.
The defense chief also said this move is consistent with the President's "holistic approach towards achieving national unity and reconciliation."
"The President is poised to grant amnesty to communist rebels and is now getting the concurrence of Congress on the matter. The peace process with separatists in Mindanao is vigorously being pursued, (and) I believe it is equally important in achieving national peace to reach out to these convicted junior officers who have shown remorse for their illegal acts and expressed desire to return to the folds of law," he said.
For his part, Esperon cited the junior officers' plea of guilty and their recent public apology and appeal for the President's forgiveness as grounds to recommend executive clemency.
"These junior officers have suffered detention for four years and nine months. These junior officers were led astray by wrong beliefs but have realized their grave mistakes. Military adventurism is no way to pursue and achieve reforms. They are very talented soldiers and we would like to give them another chance to help the country move forward," added Esperon.
According to Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Antonio Apostol, the recommendation to pardon the nine soldiers has not reached his office.
The process starts with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Pardons and Parole (BPP) but the sentence must be made with finality, which would only happen if the convicts no longer appeal the verdict.
"They (convicted mutineers) should make a manifestation that they are not appealing anymore," he said.
The Palace lawyer supports the statements of Teodoro and Esperon that they see a sufficient reason to pardon the Magdalo soldiers in order to achieve national unity.
"Yes, I agree. I think so. We have been working on achieving unity. If you recall, we worked for amnesty. Offering unity and reconciliation is essential in enticing people, those who are anti-government and those using violence, to give up and live in unity with the government," he said. (VR/JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (April 14, 2008 issue)
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