WE, “REFORMED,” qualified detainees of the New Bilibid Prison and the six prisons/penal farms under the Bureau of Corrections, are hoping that President Aquino will extend to us executive clemency and a “second chance in life” to atone for our misdeeds and reconcile with our victims, in furtherance of restorative justice, a cause which the government has been advancing for years now.
According to a reliable source and based on the research work we have made, Philippine presidents before P-Noy, during their respective terms, granted executive clemency/amnesty to no less than 70 prisoners every year, as follows:
• Gloria Arroyo (January 2001-June 2010): 1,400 prisoners (an average of 150 prisoners/year)
• Joseph Estrada (July 1998-January 2001): 600 prisoners (an average of 200 prisoners/year)
• Fidel Ramos (July 1992-June 1998): 700 prisoners (an average of 110 prisoners/year)
• Corazon Aquino (February 1986-June 1992): 400 prisoners (an average of 70 prisoners/year)
• Ferdinand Marcos (December 1965-February 1986): 3,000 prisoners (an average of 140 prisoners/year)
P-Noy, on his part, has granted executive clemency to only 55 prisoners during the almost six years he has been president.
The latest five prisoners who were granted executive clemency was on Feb. 25, 2015 (or more than a year ago now): two prisoners from penal colonies; two prisoners from the NBP (one from a medium security camp; one from a minimum security camp); and one from a maximum security compound (in the person of Joaquin Jr., “Tatay” Baron y Hebres, N200P-3259, 75 years old, who was imprisoned in 1992 for murder).
We are hoping and praying that President Aquino, having led our nation through “daang matuwid,” would still consider the granting of any form of executive clemency to us, deserving and qualified prisoners, in the remaining two months of his administration.
—VENANCIO “KUYA BOY” A. ROXAS JR. (in behalf of “reformed” prisoners of the New Bilibid Prison and six national prisons/penal farms; noted by Rev. Msgr. Roberto A. Olaguer, chief chaplain, Bureau of Corrections)