Press Release
October 8, 2008

ROXAS TO GRILL DOJ, BJMP ON PRISONERS LISTED FOR CLEMENCY

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today vowed to scrutinize the proposed budget of the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in upcoming Senate hearings, saying the untimely pardon given to celebrity convict Claudio Teehankee Jr. again highlighted the government's insensitivity to the plight of the poor.

At the same time, Roxas said it is time for Congress to amend the laws relating to presidential clemencies and pardons, saying cases such as Teehankee's should no longer happen again if Congress would raise the minimum prison time for life sentences from the current 20 years.

He said Congress and Malacañang should also raise the salaries of jail personnel and officials of the BJMP to prevent unscrupulous deals that rich convicts use to get out of jail early.

The Ilonggo senator added that the justice system would be better served if the Supreme Court would require continuous trials for all cases instead of the current system wherein lawyers for both prosecution and defense sides get to postpone hearings through technical reasons.

Roxas said he would press DoJ and BJMP officials in the budget hearings in the Senate to reveal the entire list of prisoners qualified or who have applied for presidential clemency.

Roxas said he wants to find out if indigent prisoners are included in the list of inmates who might be granted clemency or be pardoned by the President but were unable to avail themselves of the privilege because of poverty.

"Kilalala ba ang mga tao sa listahan? May mahihirap bang kasama sa mga ito? Makikita natin kung pantay-pantay ang hustisya sa ating bansa. Hihingi kami ng paliwanag kung bakit kailangang bigyan ng pardon o clemency ang mga ito," he said.

He added he would scrutinize the budgets of the DoJ and the BJMP to determine if funds allocated for the review of applications for clemency and parole and pardon are spent properly.

"Malapit na ang budget hearing para sa bawat ahensya, kasama ang DoJ at BJMP. Malalaman natin sa kanila kung mayroon pang ibang preso na mabibigyan ng clemency o pardon," he said.

The Ilonggo senator said although he respected President Arroyo's prerogative to bestow clemency to prisoners, the granting of this to Teehankee clearly showed a double standard of justice for rich and poor.

Teehankee was granted executive clemency last month. He was freed from detention last week after serving 14 years in jail for three heinous crimes.

Roxas noted that those convicted for life can have their sentence commuted after at least 20 years in jail. "Mga 20 taon sa kulungan talaga ang minimum para sa life imprisonment. Sa tingin ko, kulang pa nga ang 20 taon, para sa mga masasamang krimen kagaya ng ginawa ni Teehankee," he said.

"Tayo ay para sa pagiging pantay ng bawat tao sa ilalim ng batas. Ngunit kitang-kita dito na pinaboran ang isang mayaman samantalang ang daming mahihirap na nakakulong. Hindi ito magandang halimbawa sa hustisya sa ating bansa," he added.

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